ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan has said they will investigate how Umar Akmal had managed to pass the fitness test in Pakistan if he later failed the same test in England.

“It’s a matter of concern for us. We will investigate this matter to fix responsibility. We have to see if Umar really got unfit after reaching England or his test taken in Pakistan had flaws,” the chairman told media persons here at the Parliament House where he came to attend a meeting of Senate’s Standing Committee on Inter-provincial Coordination, which could not be held due to shortage of quorum.

He said the PCB had a clear policy that unfit players would not be included in the squad.

Questions are being raised these days over standard of fitness tests being conducted at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore in the wake of abrupt return of the temperamental batsman who was sent back from England after failing a fitness test.

On Tuesday, he was replaced by Harish Sohail and it was said that the process involved heavy expenses as the PCB had to bear expenses for Haris’ fitness test and Umar’s boarding and lodging.

Umar had been picked in the 15-man Pakistan squad for the 50-over ICC Champions Trophy which begins at three venues in England from June 1 but failed the test carried out during Pakistan’s training session in Birmingham.

He had earlier failed the test during a short conditioning camp in Lahore and was not considered for the West Indies tour.

The controversial player was later declared fit to travel to England by Dr Saboor at the NCA and the selectors promptly recalled him for the Champions Trophy.

Shaharyar further said he would not contest for PCB chairmanship again, “I have decided not to contest polls for chairmanship.”

He added that the Board would consult Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan in few days about their next assignment.

“We will take complete advantage of their experience and have decided to hold detailed discussions with them before taking a final decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, a source in the PCB said the board had decided to arrange a farewell ceremony for Misbah, Younis and Shahid Afridi and they may be given some amount, probably Rs5 million each, for their services for Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2017