Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has left the country mid-season to explore the opportunities outside by playing league cricket in the USA.
It has been revealed that Akmal has signed a short-term deal with the Northern California Cricket Association but is considering signing up a long-term deal. Currently, He is representing California Zalmi in the ongoing season of the Premier C league.
Umar Akmal recently returned to cricket after serving a ban for breaching the PCB’s anti-corruption code, However some reports claim that his return was not well received.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) board helped Akmal in the rehabilitation program but his selection in the domestic cricket scene remained on hold.
Also, he was not provided with the opportunity to play in the first XI team and because of that, he is not involved in the ongoing National T20 Cup. After having a poor run for Central Punjab Second XI in the PCB Cricket Associations T20 tournament he decided to move away from the domestic cricket scene.
The System Was Never Fair – Umar Akmal’s Family Member
There has been no confirmation about his participation in the upcoming domestic season. Also, his family has confirmed he has left for the USA. Meanwhile, One family member of Akmal believes that fitness benchmarks were made tighter for Akmal to keep him out of the selection criteria.
“There are a few others who were banned with bigger charges but given unprecedented support to make a comeback. The system was never fair to Umar. There were blatant compromises made to select a few players with poor fitness, but the benchmark was made tighter for him [Umar] to make sure keep him out.”
Meanwhile, the family member didn’t name the players but it has been told that the board had relaxed its fitness criteria for Azam Khan, Sohaib Maqsood and Sharjeel Khan.
It is believed that Umar Akmal moving to California could restart his journey in cricket. USA Cricket, together with its commercial partner ACE (American Cricket Enterprises) has been making serious efforts to bring in overseas players in the cricket leagues organised in the country. Also former Pakistan opener Sami Aslam is one of many players who settled in the USA for playing cricket.