Umar Akmal says needs to bat higher up order to achieve elusive ODI ton

Lahore, May 1(ANI): Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has said he needs to bat higher up the order to convert his double figures scores into triple scores in one day matches.

"It's a matter of the batting order that I'm not able to score a hundred. When I am batting down the order, sometimes I have to bat in a crisis when the top order has stumbled and sometimes I get fewer overs to bat," The Daily Times quoted Akmal, as saying.

"If I play at the top of the order, mainly at No. 4, then it would be easy for me to extend my innings and convert my 30-40 odd scores to a hefty innings. I am doing all the necessary training with the coaches in the Academy and playing club matches to apply my learning. I am building myself to get ready for the Sri Lanka series where I had a wonderful debut. I am setting my target to be the man of the series," he added.

His comments came after he scored his only one-day international hundred three years back in Sri Lanka and is now getting ready to break the two-figure duck when Pakistan play their next series in June.

Umar has played 63 ODIs and 16 Tests so far for Pakistan. (ANI)