Umar Akmal on Waqar Younis: “He would ask me, ‘Why are you wearing these glasses? Why these shoes?’ Instead of focusing on my cricket, he was more interested in such things”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has called out legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis for picking on him during his tenure as head coach.
Akmal claimed Waqar criticised his style of batting in Test cricket, while also taking digs at his glasses and shoes.
“Have you started playing T20 cricket in Tests? Are you playing an ODI in Test cricket?” Akmal recalled the 53-year-old saying as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
“Now, look at today’s Test cricket – it doesn’t even last three or four days.
“He would ask me, ‘Why are you wearing these glasses? Why these shoes?’ Instead of focusing on my cricket, he was more interested in such things.”
Additionally, Akmal remembered a specific incident where Waqar took shots at him and his brothers – Kamran Akmal and Adnan Akmal.
“I heard it with my own ears. Waqar Younis said, ‘Will all the cricket be played by these brothers?’ What kind of statement is that from a head coach?” he said.
Despite all the issues he had with Waqar, Akmal was thankful that the senior players in the Pakistan team at that time advised him to “ignore these things” and play his natural game.
“The senior players sat me down and told me to ignore these things and play my natural game. They encouraged me to focus on my strengths rather than listening to negativity,” he said.
Akmal last played international cricket in October 2019, meaning he missed the recent 2025 Champions Trophy and Pakistan’s limited overs tour of New Zealand.
On top of this, he wasn’t selected by any team for the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), which the Lahore Qalandars won.
Pakistan are now taking on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series and kicked things off with a 37-run win in the 1st T20I.
The 2nd T20I will be held on May 30 in Lahore.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper) and Saim Ayub