Since 2007, the left-handed Umar Amin has been among the most-talked about batting prospects for a future middle order without Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, even if he prefers opening himself. Function and efficiency win out over grace and style, but there is little doubting his methods have been effective and can be doubly so in future.

He has worked his way up diligently and steadily from Rawalpindi's junior ranks under the watchful gazes of Sabih Azhar and, later, Mansoor Rana, his national U19 coach. By the time he made his first-class debut in November 2007 expectations had already heightened: a patient 89 against a handy PIA attack did nothing to dampen them. Since then he has chipped away at whatever level and venue he has been given a chance in: U19 and A tours around the world and domestically. The results prompted a call-up into Pakistan's ODI side for the 2010 Asia Cup, though the suspicion remained that it was the wrong format: a Test debut in the Lord's Test soon after, however, seemed a more fitting reward.
Osman Samiuddin