Umar Akmal Hits Out At Mickey Arthur, Waqar Younis For Ruining His International Career

Pakistan batter Umar Akmal accused former Pakistan coaches Mickey Arthur and Waqar Younis of truncating his international career with the national team by ignoring him for selection. The 32-year-old has played 16 Tests, 121 One-Day Internationals, and 84 T20Is for Pakistan since making his debut in 2009.

Umar was a serious talent, who rose to prominence in the 2008 ICC U19 World Cup and announced his arrival on the international stage with a crackling 129 on his Test debut against New Zealand, scoring against the likes of Shane Bond and Daniel Vettori. He also scored a hundred in his third ODI match against Sri Lanka against the quality bowling of Lasith Malinga, Thilan Thushara, and Ajantha Mendis.

Umar has amassed 5887 runs for Pakistan in 221 games at an average of 31.65 across all formats with 34 half-centuries and three hundreds. Umar was slotted in the middle order but would prowess his finishing skills to bail his side out of crunch situations.

Mickey Arthur had personal issues with me: Umar Akmal

Umar had his shares of controversies with the Pakistan team management, media, board, teammates, and even a traffic warden in Lahore for stopping him from violating the signal. There was also this instance when the player was asked to return from England to Pakistan after failing two fitness tests just ahead of the 2017 Champions Trophy.

Umar revealed that South Africa-born Mickey Arthur, who was the head coach of Pakistan in the period 2016 to 2019, had differences with him and ignored him for team selection.

“Mickey Arthur had personal issues with me but the team management at that time did not raise a voice for me and they have been silent till today.

“However, Mickey Arthur later did admit that he used harsh words on me. I am among those rare cricketers of Pakistan who have been ignored at every turn,” the player told Cricket Pakistan. 

I could not understand Waqar Younis as a head coach: Umar Akmal

Arthur responded to Umar when a Pakistan journalist mentioned the player’s quote on her Twitter handle. Tweet quoting the journalist’s tweet, Arthur wrote, ‘Take a look in the mirror Umar!!”

Take a look in the mirror Umar!! https://t.co/VvZKio0WpP

— Mickey Arthur (@Mickeyarthurcr1) June 14, 2022

Umar also lashed out at former Pakistan pace bowler Waqar Younis, who was head coach of Pakistan during 2010-11 time, for holding him down the batting order despite former Pakistan captain Imran Khan’s advice.

“I asked Imran Khan to recommend team management to send me at number three. Imran Khan himself asked Waqar Younis why I was not a part of the top-order. Waqar Younis was a legendary fast bowler but I could not understand him as a head coach,” Umar said. 

Umar played his last game for Pakistan in the home T20I series against Sri Lanka in October 2019.

Also Read: Pakistan’s Umar Akmal Comes In Support Of Mohammed Shami Following The Online Abuse