Ahmed Shehzad Requests To Not Compare Him With Umar Akmal

The opener Ahmed Shehzad and the middle-order batsman Umar Akmal was recalled for the series against Sri Lanka in the home conditions. Despite getting a chance after a fine time, the results were poor from the duo. Ahmed Shehzad registered 4 and 14 runs in his chances while Umar Akmal returned with golden ducks on both occasions.

Ahmed Shehzad is one of those talented batsmen that Pakistan have tried to nurture over a decade now. He made his debut as a 17-year old against the mighty Aussies in an ODI series and despite the struggle was retained for the away series against New Zealand. Since then, he had many ups and downs.

On the other hand, since his arrival as a teenage prodigy in the 2008 under-19 World Cup, Umar has been seen as a ticking time bomb of talent ready to explode but self-detonation on and off the field have only dissuaded the team management to give him a permanent run.

Umar Akmal has his own life, I have mine – Ahmed Shehzad

Speaking of the same, Ahmed Shehzad quoted that he doesn’t like to be compared with Umar Akmal, who not only have issues on the field but also got bad conduct certificate. He further explained that the duo never played in the same role for the team and called it is unfair to get compared.

Recently, while addressing the media before the seventh round fixtures of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in Lahore, Shehzad requested critics to not compare with another discarded cricketer in Umar Akmal. “He has his own life, I have mine. I request that we are not get lumped together as a duo. I should be judged on what I do and he on his conduct. It would also be unfair on him if I were to make a mistake but the blame was to fall on him,” he stated. 

The duo has always been in the news for various reasons. Last year, Shehzad was banned after testing positive for a prohibited substance, while Akmal claimed that he was approached to engage in spot-fixing during his side’s clash with India during the 2015 World Cup. In 2017, Akmal accused then head coach Mickey Arthur of verbally abusing him and banning him from training at the National Cricket Academy.