Five Cricketers who didn’t do justice to their cricketing talent

Cricket is a funny game. On one hand, it gives immense success to some players while it isn’t so grateful for some others. There have been many players in cricket who just couldn’t do justice to their tremendous talent and climb high on the ladder of success.

Despite having great potential, these players couldn’t go on to make a big name for themselves after having a great start to their careers. Let’s take a look at five such players, who started their careers in grand fashion but quickly lost into oblivion:

1. Unmukt Chand:

Unmukt Chand: (Image Source: Twitter)

Unmukt Chand suddenly rose to the limelight when he led the Indian under-19 team to a world cup victory in 2012. Chand scored a brilliant 111 to help his team chase down 226 in the final. The star cricketer was quickly picked up by the Delhi franchise in the Indian T20 League and was being hailed as the next ‘Virat Kohli.’

But unfortunately, Chand just couldn’t live up to the sudden buzz created around him and failed to perform both in domestic cricket and the Indian T20 League. His performances soon saw him being dropped out of the Delhi franchise.  The 29-year-old took retirement from Indian cricket last year and went to the USA to pursue his cricketing dreams.

2. Mohammad Asif:

Mohammed Asif: (Image Source: Twitter)

Mohammad Asif burst onto the scene as a magnificent swing bowler who troubled many great batters of his era. Asif was being hailed as the next big thing in world cricket for his fabulous control on the swing. But the promising seamer shattered his future as he got involved in a spot-fixing scandal in the year 2010. Asif received harsh punishment for bringing the game into disrepute and was banned for life. Even today, great batters like Hashim Amla rate him as the most difficult bowler he faced in his career.

3. Vinod Kambli: 

Vinod Kambli: (Image Source: Twitter)

Vinod Kambli made headlines much before making his debut when he got involved in a record-breaking 664 partnership with the great Sachin Tendulkar at school-level cricket. Kambli took International cricket by storm as he scored a double ton against England in his maiden series. Kambli hit a golden run of form scoring yet another double ton against Zimbabwe in his very next Test outing.

But after his initial good scores, Kambli’s weaknesses were exposed by the opposition bowlers as his poor run of form began in International cricket. His dismal run lost him his place in the side. He continued to score runs in domestic cricket but could never return to the Indian team due to massive competition. Kambli represented India in 17 Tests and 104 ODIs and played his last Test for India at the age of 24.

4. Ahmed Shehzad:

Ahmed Shahzad: (Image Source: Twitter)

Ahmed Shehzad emerged as Pakistan’s much-needed answer to all their batting woes over the years. The youngster resembled star Indian batter Virat Kohli and was often compared with him. He had a great start to his career with a couple of ODI hundreds that year – one in New Zealand and the other in West Indies – looked a long-time prospect for Pakistan.

But unfortunately, his early success was short-lived as he failed to score runs consistently at the International level. The Pakistan selectors also lost their patience with the talented youngster and dropped him from the side. Shehzad then kept jumping in and out of the team and could never cement his place in the team.

5. Umar Akmal: 

Umar Akmal: (Image Source: Twitter)

Akmal comes as the third Pakistani on the list. The batter came into the limelight after he scored a brilliant hundred on his Test debut. He further had a decent tour of Australia in the year 2009-10. But like most Pakistan players, Akmal couldn’t live up to the hype created on him.

He often lost his wicket due to lack of concentration and poor shots. On innumerable occasions, he has got well set at the wicket only to give it away through a loose stroke. After persisting with Akmal for a long time, the Pakistani selectors finally showed him the way out of the team and other talented youngsters have since taken his place.

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