In an exclusive interview with TheNation on Saturday, Umar said that, "I have no problem to accept that Pakistan Cricket Board has given me many opportunities but I failed to utilise them." He discussed his entry in the first class cricket in 2006 from PCB school hunt cricket where he represented City School despite being the student of Foundation School. The school did not have its own team so he decided to appear from City School platform.
After playing a season in school cricket, Umar was selected for national Under-19 team in 2007. He toured Australia in April and then England in July. Then Australia toured Pakistan. He also played a series against Bangladesh. In January 2008, Umar was selected to tour Sri Lanka for a tri-series involving England and home nation.
Soon after that series Umar went to Malaysia with Pakistan Under-19 team to play Under-19 World Cup. Umar also hold the record of being the third highest scorer after Ahmad Shahzad and Hassan Raza in Under-19 World Cup, but both Shahzad and Hassan Raza played more matches than Umar. After consistent performances he was selected for Sri Lanka home series in January 2009, but he was not selected in the playing XI. Umar finally gets his chance in the senior side in June 2009 in Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka.
After so many eye-catching performances, Umar was selected for Pakistan's home Test series against Australia at the neutral venue in UK, as the Australians were unwilling to come to Pakistan sighting so-called security concerns. Umar played two Tests against Australia and then the same number of Tests against hosts England. He accepted whole-heartedly, he doesn't perform well in those matches and accepted selectors were right in dropping him, this is unique as a player had never accepted his fault in past and always blamed selectors for their exclusion. He is determined to win back his place in the national side and training hard in the nets and playing maximum side matches to get back in to rhythm and overcome his shortcomings.
