Mohammad Asif: “It’s time for the PCB to reconsider their stance and give Umar Akmal the chance he deserves to represent Pakistan again”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former fast bowler Mohammad Asif believes veteran batsman Umar Akmal’s career was “mishandled” and said he “deserves to represent Pakistan again”.
Akmal last played international cricket in October 2019, but has been active in domestic cricket, with his most recent appearance coming in the President’s Trophy Grade-I first-class competition in February 2024.
In seven matches for the Water And Power Development Authority (WAPDA), the 34-year-old amassed 517 runs, which included a century and three fifties, at an average of 39.76.
Asif noted that Akmal’s career was allegedly hampered by “fitness concerns”, but pointed out that it is “hypocritical” for people to say that about the Lahore native when looking at the fitness levels of the current players in the team.
“For the past six years, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unfortunately mishandled Umar Akmal’s career. Despite his impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and domestic cricket, he has been unfairly overlooked for selection to the national team,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Initially, fitness concerns were cited as the reason for his exclusion, but it’s hypocritical to see the current team’s fitness levels and yet Umar Akmal remains sidelined. It’s time for the PCB to reconsider their stance and give Umar Akmal the chance he deserves to represent Pakistan again.”
The Pakistan team recently featured in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they lost to the United States of America and India before fighting back to beat Canada and Ireland.
Even though they triumphed in those two matches, the men in green were eliminated in the group stage of the competition.
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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