Pakistan batsman Muhammad Akhlaq: “Yes, I was offered by the US but obviously, I planned my whole life to play for Pakistan. My mindset is that I have to play all my cricket for Pakistan and in Pakistan. I will get whatever is in my fate so, I have no plans to leave the country”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Muhammad Akhlaq confirmed that he was approached to play cricket for the United States of America, but rejected the offer.
The 32-year-old noted that he wants to “play all my cricket for Pakistan” and has “no plans to leave the country”.
His comments come after a number of Pakistan players have gone down the route of moving to the USA, including Sami Aslam and Hammad Azam.
“Yes, I was offered by the US but obviously, I planned my whole life to play for Pakistan. My mindset is that I have to play all my cricket for Pakistan and in Pakistan. I will get whatever is in my fate so, I have no plans to leave the country,” Akhlaq, who hails from Gujranwala, was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
The Pakistan team recently played Australia in a limited overs series and won the ODIs 2-1 before getting whitewashed 3-0 in the T20Is.
As for their trip to Zimbabwe, the men in green came away with a 2-1 win in both the ODI and T20I series.
Pakistan are now touring South Africa and lost the T20I series 2-0 before rebounding to secure a 3-0 victory in the ODIs.
Next up will be the two-Test series, which begins on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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