KARACHI: Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal and pacer Junaid Khan, who are both representing Punjab in the ongoing Pakistan Cup in Rawalpindi, were involved in a public spat over the latter’s ‘absence’ at a scheduled match of the tournament on Thursday.

“Any changes in your squad?” a TV presenter asked Umar at the toss, to which he replied, “Nasir is going to be filling in for Junaid today.

“Any particular reason for that?” the presenter asked.

“I just found out when I walked into the ground that he [Junaid Khan] is absent. I’m very surprised. The manager and coach told me he’s not going to be playing today. It’s a shocking news for me, as captain,” Umar said, laying the grounds for a war of words between the two national players.

Junaid presented a rebuttal moments later, in a video filmed from his hotel room.

“I am saddened to hear Umar’s remarks that he made on television, saying ‘I ran away from the team’. I disagree with that. I am dealing with a case of food poisoning and the team management is well aware of that. In fact, I was advised by the team doctor to take a day’s rest,” the left-arm paceman said.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board in a press release issued on Thursday announced its decision to set up a three-member inquiry committee to look into the matter involving Umar and Junaid.

“The committee will be headed by PCB general manager domestic cricket Shafiq Ahmed and will present its findings “as early as possible,” a PCB spokesman said.

Punjab team’s manager Ishrat Ali and coach Tanveer Shaukat are the other two members of the committee.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2017