Veteran Pakistan cricketer, for the last 4-5 years Umar Akmal has been repeatedly in news not for his knocks but for his statements, in the latest one he has warned many of his colleagues for disclosing their secrets, as Akmal reckons he often gets blames for his poor attitude toward his teammates.
Umar Akmal slammed fellow cricketers for spreading rumours about him-
“Mostly cricketers say that I am not mature. And these cricketers are the ones who I played cricket with. They are my seniors and I really respect them,” said Pakistan’s cricketer on a YouTube podcast.
Umar has not featured for Men in Green for the last 3-4 years and played his last game for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 2019, earlier he faced 2 years ban from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for failing to report corruption issues.
“I would like to say ‘don’t force me to reveal your secrets’. I have shocking secrets of players and if I reveal them, it will hurt their families too.
“Our people are too innocent and love watching cricket. I just respect that and don’t reveal the secrets I have. If these secrets are revealed, people will stop watching cricket,” he further added.
Whereas the 32-year-old recently played for Quetta Gladiators in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023, Quetta eventually finished in the last position in the 8th edition of the PSL, Umar managed only 95 runs in five innings with a best of 43, with a strike rate of 186.27.
I may look OK but deep down I want to watch @Umar96Akmal hit 17 in an over?#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #IUvQG pic.twitter.com/z020odppTs
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2023
Further, Akmal also replied to the question regarding his viral dancing videos, which are shared as memes on social media. He says that he has all the right in the world to enjoy family functions.
“I only want to ask one question from you. Did you ever dance at your siblings’ wedding?” he responded to the host. “If people cannot enjoy their siblings’ weddings, where would they be dancing? outside?”
“I have the freedom to enjoy my life. No one needs to say anything about it,” he said.
Lets all dance like Umar akmal #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/5MTBYgyX3n
— NM (@urbanpendu00) January 17, 2016
Umar made his International cricket debut in 2009, the same year Virat Kohli scored his first international century, during starting days both players were compared with each other, but as it happens in Pakistan cricket, talent is overshadowed by fame and money, and so was Akmal.
Recently after Umar was named for the T20I series against New Zealand (PAK vs NZ), Umar’s brother, veteran Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter, Kamran Akmal questioned Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for Umar Akmal’s non-selection also suggested authorities keep their personal agenda aside while selecting the team, whereas Umar is also the cousin of the Pakistani skipper.