PCB issue notice to Umar Akmal over outburst against Mickey Arthur
Pakistan Cricket Board has issued a show cause notice against Umar Akmal after his explosive verbal attack on coach Mickey Arthur. In a press conference, Akmal had accused Arthur of using abusive language against him and stopping him from using coaching facilities at the National Cricket Academy.
Akmal lost his place in Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad after failing two fitness tests in England. Although he was named in the team for the national high-performance camp organized by the NCA, he pulled himself out of that, citing a knee injury and excused himself for five weeks, during which he went to England with his private trainer to undergo rehabilitation.
Umar akmal claims against Mickey Aurther pic.twitter.com/aRmDvFMtFU
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"I had gone to England for rehabilitation of my knee injury," said Akmal, as reported by PTI. "After I recovered, I went to the NCA to start working on my fitness and training. But the coaching staff doesn't want to work with me at all. When I asked why all those international coaches didn't want to work with me, they responded that they wanted to prioritize working with players who had central contracts. I said that I too am an international Pakistan cricketer, and if my fitness is lacking - and I admit that along the way my fitness has been found wanting - they should help me.
"I then went to talk to the chief selector (Inzamam), but he referred me to Mickey Arthur. Arthur took me back to Inzi bhai's room and started scolding me and using bad language in front of Inzi Bhai, which I found demeaning and insulting.
"It's not even my fault, and I find it painful that anyone should be allowed to swear at me. I accept my fitness isn't up to the mark, and I am trying to work on it, and I asked to be allowed a trainer to help me. But Mickey said I shouldn't even have come to the NCA and should be playing club cricket instead."
Akmal also urged Najam Sethi, the PCB chairman, to take a note of the Aussie's behavior towards players.
"He shouldn't be swearing at me like that, it is like he's abusing all of Pakistan. You look at any cricket match, and you'll see he's swearing at one player or the other. I want to reveal this to the public and to all my fans. I request the chairman [Najam Sethi] to take this issue very seriously. When the head coach is allowed to swear at someone whenever they wish, that is unacceptable. As a Pakistani, I could not stomach it.
"I want to tell them that even when I try to do something good, I am prevented from doing so. When I take pictures with my fans, they, too, tell me to work on my fitness, and I feel they are right. But now I want to rectify this, everything is being snatched away from me. Why do academies exist? They exist to correct our mistakes. Now you should tell me what to do; I am a Pakistan player."
However, Arthur stated that he had an exchange with Akmal, in which he informed the wicket-keeper that he was no longer a contracted player, he needed to earn back the right to use the NCA.
"Umar Akmal wanted to use Grant Flower's services for batting. I told him he must first earn the right to go and play club cricket since he is not under PCB contract anymore." Arthur said. "He needs to prove himself before he uses our support staff.
"I never stopped him from using the Academy; told him not to use services of our support staff until he earns the right. Akmal cannot expect that the support staff, who are for contracted players, are at his beck and call. No body there should be taken for granted."
With Pakistan Cricket Board issuing the notice to Akmal, it might prove to be the final nail in the coffin for the injury-prone keeper.
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