Haider Ali the new face

Umar Akmal  - a waste of talent

Umar Akmal was again in the headlines for all the wrong reasons as he has received the ban from all forms of the game due to corruption charges. He failed to inform the authorities of Pakistan Cricket Board after he received the fixing offer before the start of Pakistan Super league (PSL). Umar Akmal was included in the national team of Pakistan after the 2008 Under 19 World cup. At the start of his career cricket experts would compare him with Virat Kholi one of the finest batsman in all form of cricket. Both started their career in 2008 but now Kohli is the Captain of Indian cricket team with 70 centuries and 22 thousand international runs.

Pakistan Cricket has witnessed many exciting talents but unfortunately due to the negligence of Pakistan Cricket Board and players themselves they all got wasted. Back in 2010 International Cricket Council(ICC) banned three Pakistani cricketers Salman butt, Amir and Asif for accepting money from bookies during their England tour. Another very talented opener for Pakistan Sharjel Khan was banned by Pakistan Cricket Board for 5 years accepting his role in spot fixing scandal in Pakistan super league (PSL).

From the past record of Umar Akmal it is very clear that Cricket was never the first priority of this youngster and he has to dealt disciplinary issues all the time during his short career. He remained in the controversy due to his bad behavior and rude attitude that affected his carrier very badly. In 2010 for showing solidarity to his brother Kamran Akmal who was dropped from the tour of Australia he reported a fake injury. He was also in the headlines for giving unauthorized interview to the media and attending parties without permission of PCB. He was also included in a dispute with former Pakistani couch mickey Author that led to ban.

Most of the former Cricketers call this the right decision from the PCB and demand more strict actions against the players who are involved in fixing activities. Ramiz Raja Former Pakistani cricketer once again urged PCB to put these cricketers behind the bar for letting the game and their country down. Another former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in his interview to a local newspaper said that “Umar Akmal ruined his own career but he also criticized PCB for mishandling the players who were involved or accused of match fixing”. Famous Indian Cricket expert Harsha Bhogle in his tweet express a shame on this incident and consider Umar Akmal a great talent gone wasted. He wrote

“To our east and to our west, I saw two extraordinary talents. Mohammad Ashraful and Umar Akmal. It is who you are and what you make of your talent that determines how far you go. Talent by itself is so inadequate.”

Umar Akmal represented Pakistan in 16 test matches 121 ODIs and 84 T20 matches of his international Career but this might be the end of his career not the end he deserved after so much potential and talent.