Mickey Arthur: “I found out about Umar Akmal’s shenanigans after the last ODI”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur did not mention whether he is irritated with batsman Umar Akmal after he was fined for breaking the team’s curfew.

Akmal was fined 20 percent of his match fee from the fifth ODI against Australia in Dubai after he allegedly attended a concert by American singer Akon last Friday night without obtaining permission to do so by the team management.

While Arthur is aware of what happened, he didn’t comment about the incident or Akmal’s behaviour.

“I found out about Umar Akmal’s shenanigans after the last ODI,” he was quoted as saying by PakPassion.

However, Arthur noted that Akmal had a good attitude during the ODI series against Australia, and would have been disappointed not to have converted some of his starts into bigger scores.

Akmal made 48 in the first ODI, 36 in the third ODI and 43 in the fifth ODI.

Overall, he finished with 150 runs in five matches at an average of 30.

“Umar Akmal’s attitude throughout the tour was very good,” Arthur said. “All I can say is that he arrived there and worked and trained hard, he tried hard to impress in all areas and he’ll be disappointed he didn’t get a big innings.”