‘Afridi wants Umar Akmal for England T20s’

E-Paper | April 25, 2026

KARACHI: Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi has appealed to the PCB to include middle-order batsman Umar Akmal in the squad for the upcoming T20 series against England, a reliable source has revealed.

According to the source, the flamboyant all-rounder wants the PCB to complete the disciplinary hearing against Umar quickly after the 25-year-old batsman was allegedly involved in activities which ‘brought disrepute to Pakistan cricket’ while he was featuring for domestic side SNGPL in Hyderabad in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy.

“Umar is an important part of Afridi's plans for the Pakistan’s World T20 campaign next year,” said the source.

“He has contacted chief selector Haroon Rasheed to expedite Umar Akmal’s return to the T20 side.

“Afridi believes that if Umar is innocent he should join the Pakistan squad on urgent basis,” added the source.

The PCB website on Thursday released a statement about the Umar Akmal episode.

“Umar Akmal was in contention for a place in the T20 squad, but he was not considered following the board issuing him a show cause notice after the press reports revealed that he had brought PCB and Pakistan Cricket into disrepute,” the statement said.

Chief selector Haroon Rasheed confirmed Umar's axing.

“Umar Akmal had been pencilled in for selection but he has subsequently been dropped on instructions from the board,” added Haroon Rasheed.

Afridi will be back in action for Pakistan when they meet England in a three-match T20I series which kicks off on November 26.

The all-rounder will also be leading the team at next year's World T20 to be staged in India.

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Baaligh

Nov 14, 2015 08:15pm

No one, neither Akmal nor even Afridi himself should be considered as invincible. Team has to learn living without those who are arrogant and do not follow the set code of conduct. In this case PCB should take Afridi to task for pressing for Akmal despite knowing about issuance of show cause notice.

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Shahid Akbar

Nov 14, 2015 08:28pm

I do not understand how did Umer Akmal bring "disrepute to Pakistan cricket." Is it unlawful to enjoy leisure time?

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Rashid Ishaq

Nov 14, 2015 08:34pm

Afridi has requested for the right man; whatever but Umar has the right talent

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Waleed

Nov 14, 2015 08:44pm

Awkward moment for PCB

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Adil

Nov 14, 2015 08:45pm

Both afridi and umar akmal should be dropped!

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Irshad Hameed

Nov 14, 2015 08:49pm

Afridi why you interfering in PCB management, this does not come in ur job descp.Do you know your own personal performance as per one of famous tv cricketer anchor that 20 matches total runs 216 and 16 wks - what a poor average of senior cricketer and T20 captain 11 runs less than 1 wk per match average. on this you deserve to be team member. Pls explain that instead fighting for Akmal, justify your own ????? which is ZERO

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joe

Nov 14, 2015 08:49pm

I do hope he knows that tournament is being held in India and as things go Pakistan will not be part of it. So why all this fuss

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Larka

Nov 14, 2015 08:52pm

No body is above code of conduct and rule of Law, if he has violated then he should be punished.

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Gaurav

Nov 14, 2015 08:55pm

Umar is a fantastic cricketer. One of the best batsman of asia. The only player i love to watch for the classy stroke play after sachin is umar. Thanks to afridi for requesting for selction of the most talented batsman.

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NADEEM NOTTA

Nov 14, 2015 09:02pm

Umer Akmal should be included in all format of the game,he is good in the middle order,pakistan tried three new players against England and we saw the result, don,t waste telant we need him game needs him.

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syed wasim haider

Nov 14, 2015 09:18pm

Afridi is right

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Nov 14, 2015 09:23pm

Friend catches friend. Pakistan has enough pool of talent who easily replaces Umar. Why develop Code of Conduct when don't wish to appreciate it ?

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R.Kannan

Nov 14, 2015 09:25pm

I am always surprised at the way Umar Akmal has been treated by PCB. He clearly had the potential to be one of the best batsmen in the world but Pakistan never gave him a chance at the same batting slot long enough. By dropping him for reasons not specified, PCB is again harming his career

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Truth Hurts

Nov 14, 2015 09:50pm

Umar Akmal is still 25 years old?

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Fawad

Nov 14, 2015 10:06pm

Good for the Captain to stick with the talented Umar. But Umar needs to get his focus and attention to cricket so he doesn't end up wasting his talent, it's about time he learns from Virat Kohli.

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A. RASHID

Nov 14, 2015 10:12pm

I agree with Shahid Akbar. They made mountain out of mole.

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Imran Quraishi

Nov 14, 2015 10:20pm

The board has a genuine reason for their action. The problem with Pakistan in general is that we don't want to follow the rules and everybody thinks that they are the authority and not answerable to anyone. This type of mentality has to go and people who think that they are above the law should be banned and axed from all the posts no matter what occupation they are in. Shaharyar Khan clearly said that these guys are uneducated high school dropouts and as such keep giving a bad name to Pakistan.

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ShehzadA

Nov 14, 2015 10:37pm

Not only Akmal but Mr. No performance Afridi should also be dropped. There are more talent players in Pakistan then Umar Akmal only if they get fair chance. Afridi and Akmal have been given too many chance and in last couple of year their performance is sub par.

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R.S. Menon

Nov 14, 2015 10:54pm

Whether Akmal has done anything wrong or not, whether he has the talent or not, one thing is sure that Afridi does not have locus standi in the matter and his comments are unwarranted. R.S. Menon, Bangalore

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Faisal

Nov 14, 2015 11:01pm

discipline is most important than anything wherever country's respect lies. Moreover we need to think that whether UMER AKMAL is our only talent left to be relied. Nations respect is short lived if the belief of their talent is short. We should never be worried of our talent

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SohailAnwar

Nov 14, 2015 11:04pm

Shahid Afridi has been appointed Captain, to captain the side he will be given by the selectors. He can not and should not demand players of his Chioce. Mr Afridi just do the job you have been given.

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Shakeel Ahmed

Nov 14, 2015 11:11pm

Afridi, please do not encourage nepotism and "parchi" culture. If Umar wasn't included in the squad, we must respect the decision, regardless. This is the very difference between the West and desi. We are good at dismantling an organization simply because we hate obeying a procedure.

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NAZ

Nov 14, 2015 11:16pm

@Shahid Akbar ----this reflects the society of Pakistan that means what he did is exceptable?????????????so all young men should follow him or they are already in it??

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NAZ

Nov 14, 2015 11:18pm

@Rashid Ishaq ----why??????????????is there are no more talented boys left in Pakistan????????????????

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Canada

Nov 14, 2015 11:19pm

Afridi should be dropped. He is not in form.

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Manzoor Elahee

Nov 14, 2015 11:22pm

Afridi's appealed is right.Umer Akmal should back into the team quickly if he is proved innocent.He is one the best T20 player presently.

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Farooq Mughal

Nov 15, 2015 12:31am

Umar Akmal has not done anything against the law, bring him back.

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Freeman

Nov 15, 2015 12:39am

“Umar is an important part of Afridi's plans for the Pakistan’s World T20 campaign next year,” Hahaha, Onw can smell result of the plan

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Sherry

Nov 15, 2015 12:48am

If Asad Shafiq can be selected again and again despite completely destroying Pakistan's batting in odi and ordinary batsman like Iftikhar Ahmed can go on to get a chance at the international level, how can Umar Akmal be not picked up given the fact he has been the best Pak odi batsman in the last give years inspite of his occasional brain fade while batting?

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 15, 2015 01:08am

What else can he demand at this crucial juncture in time time and history?

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M. Baluch

Nov 15, 2015 01:12am

Umar Akmal is the best batsman in the country - regardless of the format of the game! Just like Wahab Riaz was kept out on various pretexts, so is Umar being victimized just because he likes to express himself - he is a maverick in a country that likes to produce clones who simply toe the line! It was only under the captaincy of Mushtaq, and to a lesser extent Imran, did creativity and flair/flamboyance prosper - and so did the team. Please, like Justin Trudeau remarked, this is 2015 - wake up to the reality!!!

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A. Ali

Nov 15, 2015 01:39am

there will be never someone like Imran Khan who dictated his terms with then BCCP now PCB. he did not scratched a pitch neither bite the ball, nor he ever announced a sudden retirement from test cricket in mid series when first test was underway. So, Mr Afridi, watch out whatever you ask for.

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Asad Khan

Nov 15, 2015 02:01am

Dancing brings disrepute to PCB ?

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Fahim Khan

Nov 15, 2015 02:37am

Drop Afridi too.

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LOUDSPEAKER

Nov 15, 2015 02:40am

Yes, in the best interest of Pakistan Cricket bring in Umar Akmal in ODIs and T20s. He has the ability to change the tide of the game. Also, the selectors are doing excesses against Ahmed Shehzad.

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Arif k

Nov 15, 2015 04:19am

I'm with you afridi. Umer Akmal is much talented than so many current players in the team. In my opinion he should also be included in ODI series.

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Abbassin

Nov 15, 2015 04:35am

I response to the commentators who advocate Umar Akmal’s inclusion in the team, because he has the talent and is right for the team must seriously think that PCB. does not have a personal vendetta against Umar Akmal. However, if he is charged of bringing "disrepute to Pakistan cricket" there has to be more than engaging in leisure activities- I suggest that they should read between the lines. Notwithstanding his talent we must remember that cricket is a team sport and no one is bigger than the team or the country. Further, this kind of laissez faire attitude about anything and everything goes has led us to many a disaster in the past, and moving forward we must be vigilant if we are to avoid future problems.

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Abdulrazzak

Nov 15, 2015 05:19am

Umar Akmal may have talent, but he has not utilized it very well (Just like Shahid Afridi), His performance has been mediocre at best.

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Malik

Nov 15, 2015 05:30am

Why Afridi is showing such a distrust of the selection board? He is just a player only. Truthfully, he is lucky to be selected as I seriously doubt if he has any talent left in cricket. He has disappointed us many times with her mercurial bating and showing no consistency. We need someone moderate like Mishbah. If Afridi indulge in such politics, showing him the door is the right thing for our selection board. Once you open the door to such thankless advise and intrusion, there is no end to it. I remember in my time Sarfaraz Nawaz has that peculiar talent and he was tolerated for a very long time. This country has suffered long in its reputation. Please do not compromise it anymore. Akmal has shown too many antics unfitting for a player. No tear shed from me.

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Imran A.

Nov 15, 2015 06:02am

Please provide us with more details what Umar Akmal brought disrepute to PCB? It's no longer a personal affair when you are dealing with members of our cricket team. In the nation's eyes, a chief selector can be changed without affecting us. But a good respectable cricketer, now you are messing with the whole nation.

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Ak-durr

Nov 15, 2015 07:02am

Can we take Afridi out of the team too? Please ?

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Nadir Aziz

Nov 15, 2015 07:47am

Why not drop both of them.

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Mdsr

Nov 15, 2015 08:34am

Why is Afridi so aggressive? Team is already being announced, he should better use Sarfraz as well, but Afridi wants Omar Akmal to be the next captain, not Sarfraz.

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سے Shaam

Nov 15, 2015 08:53am

why do we take sides of undisciplined characters?

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Arif Bara

Nov 15, 2015 09:45am

We should not support undisciplined persons. I think Afridi should be dropped too. He is not performing well.

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Ashraf Usman

Nov 15, 2015 09:47am

Afridi should not bend the rules for his personal favourites. There is no dearth of players who could be even better than Akmal.

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izaz

Nov 15, 2015 09:49am

This is the reason behind failure of almost every Pakistani institution- favoritism.

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Sam

Nov 15, 2015 11:14am

They both can stay out and team won't miss them. Afridi again trying to be controversial.

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ahmed

Nov 15, 2015 11:18am

@Arif k He in playing from 5 years but never should his talented inning, Both Afridi and Akmal should never be selected for the betterment of young generation.

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Naqeeb

Nov 15, 2015 08:23pm

Afridi is right, get him for t20

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Em Moosa

Nov 16, 2015 02:38am

It is better to change Afridi as captain. He is useless now.

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