Umar Akmal last played a Test for Pakistan in 2011 – but the batsman tells Saj Sadiq of Pak. Jake Butt Jersey .Passion.net that he has not given up on a recall... PakPassion.net : You are back at Leicestershire after a short but successful stint last season. What are your aims for this season? Umar Akmal : Firstly a big thank you to Leicestershire for giving me the opportunity to return and play for them again. I had a great time last season playing for Leicestershire and my aims this season are to play well and score plenty of runs in each match for Leicestershire and to help them have a successful season in the NatWest T20 Blast tournament.PakPassion.net : You are now 26 years old. Time to show some maturity on and off the field, isnt it?Umar Akmal : I think I have improved a lot when it comes to maturity both on the cricket field and off it. I feel that in the coming months and years everyone will see a more mature Umar Akmal. I particularly need to bat according to the situation more than I have in the past and that is definitely something I am focusing on. Akmal is currently playing for Leicestershire in the NatWest T20 Blast PakPassion.net : The Chief Selector wants to see plenty of runs from you in domestic cricket. Are you up for that challenge and to prove your doubters wrong?Umar Akmal : Absolutely. My aim is to make lots of runs for Leicestershire, then in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and then back home in Pakistan I need to make sure I get off to a flying start in domestic cricket for Sui Gas. I am aware that I need a strong domestic season behind me to impress the selectors and I am fully aware that I need to perform in domestic cricket to hopefully catch the eye.PakPassion.net : According to the recent fitness tests at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), your levels of fitness have declined. Why is that and is that a concern for you?Umar Akmal : As professional athletes, we are always working hard on our fitness. Unfortunately, some quarters have insinuated that I am extremely unfit and not ready to play. This is obviously untrue. However, as a professional athlete, I will continue to work hard on my fitness.PakPassion.net : Do you think you get a rough deal from the media who see you as an easy target?Umar Akmal : I would urge the Pakistani media to support Pakistani cricketers and help us in taking Pakistan cricket forward. The media needs to stop highlighting every little situation and making a big deal out of it. We cricketers have families too and its not nice for them to see negative stories being brought up and highlighted in the media. Our families struggle to cope with such controversies which our media seem to thrive on. It not only hurts our families but these stories hurt us cricketers and ultimately Pakistan cricket. I need support from the media and if I get that then you will definitely see positive results. I always pray that the Pakistan cricket team is successful whether I am in the team or not and that will never change. Lets see what happens in the coming weeks and months as that will give me a clearer picture regarding my future. Umar Akmal PakPassion.net : You find yourself now completely sidelined from international cricket. Whats going through your mind nowadays?Umar Akmal : The squads have not been announced as yet for the limited-overs leg of the tour of England. Only the squad has been announced ahead of the Test series, so you never know. I live in hope, I always do. Ive only wanted what is best for the Pakistan team and Pakistan cricket and I have always tried my best in whatever format I have been selected. I always pray that the Pakistan cricket team is successful whether I am in the team or not and that will never change. Lets see what happens in the coming weeks and months as that will give me a clearer picture regarding my future.PakPassion.net : You made a sparkling 129 on Test debut but your critics say that as a batsman you have regressed. Whats gone wrong?Umar Akmal : My Test debut was a special moment for me. My brother Kamran was with me at the crease when I reached three figures and senior players like Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik were around me and they offered me so much support and guidance. I cannot express in words just how much confidence those senior players gave me. I was full of confidence back then and perhaps that is what has been lacking and why Ive not been able to kick on as much as I would have liked regarding my performances for Pakistan. A lot of people had high hopes for me and I dont want to let those people down in the future. Akmal would like to emulate his countryman Younis Khan PakPassion.net : Why is your confidence lacking despite so many opportunities for Pakistan?Umar Akmal : Confidence for a player comes from your captain, the management, the coaching staff, your cricket board and the media. We players just need confidence, thats all. Ive played all over the world and have always tried to project my countrys name in a positive light. My country always comes first for me but sometimes I feel that I dont get the backing and support and that affects my confidence. Sometimes playing in leagues around the world I am given more backing and therefore that boosts my confidence.PakPassion.net : Do you now see yourself as a Twenty20 specialist batsman?Umar Akmal : Absolutely not. My aim has always been and always will be to play Test cricket for Pakistan. Ive always said that Test cricket is the number one format for me and I still maintain that. I always wanted to emulate the achievements of Younus Khan in Test cricket and still do. Hes a great example to me as a cricketer and as a human being. I also follow AB de Villiers a lot and hes another great example to me. These are two individuals whose achievements I want to emulate and time is still on my side. Umar is a big admirer of South Africas AB de Villiers PakPassion.net : When do you think we will see you back in Pakistan colours?Umar Akmal : Id love to be in Pakistans whites and be playing Test cricket as thats the format that I really want to play for Pakistan again. Im desperate to play Test cricket again for Pakistan, but if I dont get the opportunity to play Test cricket then limited overs cricket for my country would be fine. I just want another chance to perform and to show people that I am still capable of performing in international cricket. I used to play all three formats for Pakistan and Im sure everyone will see me playing in all three formats for Pakistan again soon.PakPassion.net : Do you feel that the introduction of Mickey Arthur gives you a fresh opportunity to impress the head coach?Umar Akmal : I wish Mickey all the best in his new role and I hope his stint as head coach is a very successful one. Whoever the selectors and head coach pick to play for Pakistan, there will be no hard feelings from me and I wish all of them the very best. Mickey Arthur has succeeded Waqar Younis as Pakistan coach PakPassion.net : At this moment in time, based on what Inzamam-ul-Haq has said, do you agree your international future looks bleak?Umar Akmal : I just need to perform, get my head down and score lots of runs in whichever league I am playing in. At the moment my focus is on doing well for Leicestershire and then I will be playing in the Caribbean Premier League. After that I will play some club cricket in Pakistan and then the domestic season in Pakistan starts. I need to perform and catch the eye of the selectors; thats all I can do and the rest is out of my hands.PakPassion.net : Youve been labelled talented, reckless and irresponsible? Are those fair ways to describe your batting credentials?Umar Akmal : I will ask my critics to look at me and what I have achieved compared to others. They will get the answer by just looking at my statistics and looking at the numbers of others; my statistics are much better. As for my fans I will say that you have always supported me through thick and thin and I need your support now more than ever. I always get a lot of confidence from my fans comments and appreciation.Watch Pakistans tour of England live on Sky Sports, starting with the first Test, at Lords, from Thursday, July 14. Also See: Amir in Pakistan Test squad Pakistan fixtures/results Arthur appointed by Pakistan Live cricket on Sky Todd Davis Jersey .Y. -- Scott Chandler is returning to Buffalo, where he spent the past three seasons establishing himself as the Bills top pass-catching tight end. Domata Peko Jersey . - Mike Zimmer has brought a demanding style to the Minnesota Vikings. http://www.officialdenverbroncosfootball.com/authentic-bradley-roby-jersey-womens . Amid a rain of confetti, Shabazz Napier basked in the celebration on the court after being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four following the 60-54 win over Kentucky.HAMILTON, Ont. -- Dan LeFevour stole the spotlight from Henry Burris on Saturday night. LeFevour threw for 361 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a game-high 109 yards and a TD in his first CFL start, leading the Hamilton Tiger-Cats past the Ottawa Redblacks 33-23. Burris was making his first appearance in Hamilton since being released by the club in January after it signed Zach Collaros as a free agent. Burris served as the Ticats starter for two seasons and led the squad to a Grey Cup appearance last year while also tutoring LeFevour. Although LeFevour spoiled Burriss return, LeFevour downplayed any suggestion the game was about the quarterbacks. "It had nothing to do with him," LeFevour said. "It was just good to see him. "I talked to him during the week and after the game . . . he was encouraging me. Hes a great guy, he really is." LeFevour, 27, was an impressive dual threat for Hamilton (1-3). He completed 21-of-30 passes while also running 13 times, his one-yard TD at 9:44 of the fourth snapping a 23-23 tie. The big play was LeFevour hitting C.J. Gable on an 83-yard screen pass that, with a horse-tackle penalty, put the Ticats at the Ottawa one-yard line to the delight of the Ron Joyce Stadium sellout of 6,500. "You saw what a competitor he is," Hamilton coach/GM Kent Austin said. "Real strong will to win, threw the ball well. "Early on he pulled the ball down a little too soon but finally settled in and let the game come to him some more. He just really had a command of the offence." For the first time this season, Gable was a key figure in Hamiltons offence. The speedy running back ran six times for 62 yards and a TD while adding three catches for a team-high 105 yards as the Ticats rolled up 558 total offensive yards. Burris, 39, finished 27-of-44 passing for 290 yards and two TDs and an interception while throwing his first interception of the season. Ottawa (1-3) pulled into a 23-23 tie on Brett Mahers 23-yard field goal at 4:41 of the fourth. "He did a good job," Burris said of LeFevour. "He ran the offence, got the ball to his playmakers and made some plays. "Im proud of him. I just wish he wouldve saved that for another night but kudos to him." Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell said LeFevours legs were key to Hamiltons victory. "Hes a runner, if you give him escape lanes he makes you pay," Campbell said. "We were trying to get him to hold the ball, which he did a couple of times, but he made some plays with his feet . . . then we gave up some huge plays. "Him and Gable, theyre good athletes and youve got to be right on those guys because they make big plays. Tramaine Brock Jersey. quot; The Redblacks were coming off their first-ever win, an 18-17 home decision against Toronto last week, and Marcus Henry certainly did his part with 10 catches for 138 yards and a TD. But Burris said his club hurt itself against the Ticats. "We found ways to hurt ourselves," he said. "We had more opportunities to put more points on the board. "This was one of those matches where the last offence that had the ball was going to win the game. Hamilton did a good job of making big plays, we didnt make enough big plays. We cant be shooting ourselves in the foot in those key situations." The game was the Ticats home opener and their first in Hamilton in 21 months as last years home contests were played at the University of Guelph while Tim Hortons Field was being built. Saturdays contest was supposed to open Tim Hortons Field but construction delays will force the team to play at least its first two home games at McMaster. Hamilton hosts the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night. Brandon Banks had Hamiltons other touchdown. Medlock added the converts and four field goals. Matt Carter scored Ottawas other touchdown. Maher had the converts and three field goals. Medlocks 36-yard field goal capped an entertaining first half and earned Hamilton a 20-17 advantage. It was set up by Craig Butlers interception that put the Ticats at their own 45-yard line. The contest began at a fever pitch with TDs on the first three possessions. Banks took LeFevours shovel pass 53 yards for the score on the second play from scrimmage just 58 seconds in before Burris countered with a smart 13-play, 96-yard march he capped with a 10-yard TD toss to Carter at 7:35. But Gables 47-yard touchdown run on the Ticats fifth offensive play at 9:29 put them ahead 14-7 as they opened by gaining 158 yards on their first five plays. NOTES -- LeFevour became the Ticats third different starter this year after Collaros (head injury) and Jeremiah Masoli started the earlier contests . . . Saturdays game was the first between Hamilton and Ottawa since Oct. 21, 2005 when the Ticats downed the former Renegades 40-32 . . . Ottawa entered weekend action tied atop the East Division with Toronto and Montreal. The last time an Ottawa club was first in the East was Aug. 19, 2005 when the Renegades were 5-3 but they lost their next six games to fall from playoff contention . . . 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