2017 Champions Trophy: Unfit Umar Akmal To Be Sent Back Home From England
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:52 PM
Umar Akmal is all set to fly back home to Pakistan from England after the batsman failed the fitness test twice in two days.
It comes as a big shock to him, as he made a comeback to the side after being dropped from the West Indies series due to the same issue.
Umar’s brother Kamran Akmal is the front-runner for the spot, as the elder brother was forced his way into the national team for the ODI series against the Windies but was dropped from the Champions Trophy squad due to his poor run there. At present, he seems a likely replacement for his brother.
Pakistan can send a replacement for Umar till May 25, Shahryar Khan, the PCB Chairman confirmed,
“He has failed two fitness tests during the ongoing camp there in England ahead of Champions Trophy. So since we have a policy not to carry unfit players, it has been decided to call him back and send a replacement. We have a deadline until May 25 so we are deliberating on the possible replacements,” Khan told ESPNcricinfo.
From past one year, Pakistan team management has raised the fitness levels and now keep a keen eye on the fitness of the players. Last year as well the players attended an army camp ahead of their series against England.
There were reports that 15 out of 31 players failed the fitness test and it was the 38-year-old Younis khan and 41-year-old Misbah ul Haq who emerged as the fittest cricketers in the camp. Both the players recently retired from international cricket, after the conclusion of the third Test against West Indies.
Pakistan is set to face India in their first game of the ICC Champions Trophy on June 4 in Edgbaston. Their next contest will be against South Africa on June 7 in a day/night game before completing their league stage against Sri Lanka on June 12.
They will face Bangladesh and Australia in the practice matches to assimilate to the conditions in England.