'Ummeed toh maine kisi ne nahi lagaayi hai': Umar Akmal's blunt remark on brother Kamran's appointment as PCB selector
Umar Akmal had a rather blunt remark when he was asked about his brother Kamran's appointment in the PCB selection committee.
Pakistan's wicketkeeper-batter Umar Akmal is set to feature in the upcoming season of Pakistan Super League, where he represents the Quetta Gladiators. Akmal is currently out-of-favour with the Pakistan team, having made his last international appearance for the side in 2019. The 32-year-old Pakistan star faced a suspension from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for failure to report a fixing approach in 2020, but has since made a comeback to domestic cricket.
Earlier this week, Kamran Akmal was appointed as the head of junior selection committee that will conduct the U13, U16 and U19 trials. In addition, ESPNCricinfo also reported that Kamran was named among the members of Pakistan's senior men's national selection committee.
As Umar gears up for the PSL, he was asked whether he had increased hopes of making a return to the national team; on many occasions in the past, Umar alleged that he had been unfairly not played in domestic circuit. It was revealed by Pakistan journalist Hafiz Muhammad Imran that Raza Ali Dar, Umar's captain during Pakistan's domestic season, was asked to not play the wicketkeeper-batter for reasons unknown.
Umar, however, insisted that he pins hopes on nobody and that he will continue to put forward the hard work and leave the rest to god.
“Ummeed toh maine kisi se lagaayi nahi hai. (I've never kept hopes from anybody) I've only prayed to god and continued to work hard on my cricket. If god wills, the road ahead will be easy,” said Akmal junior in an interview with Geo Super.
Umar Akmal has represented Pakistan in 16 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 84 T20Is so far; he is yet to play a cricket match this year, having made his last appearance in domestic cricket on December 29 for Northern Pakistan in the Pakistan Cup.
Kamran, meanwhile, is yet to announce his retirement from international cricket but his last appearance in domestic cricket came all the way back in August 2022. He has played 53 Tests for Pakistan, while appearing in 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is.
