Published: Sep 11, 2016, 10:01 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 11, 2016, 10:01 AM (IST)
Pakistan‘s middle-order batsman, Umar Akmal who has been out of national contention due to ‘disciplinary issues’, ever since the T20 World Cup 2016, in India, will return to the T20 side, for the three-match T20 series against West Indies in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Akmal, who will return in the green-outfit, wants to make a ‘controversy-free comeback’. “My aim is to make a controversy free comeback. The last few months have been very hard on me because I was out of the team. However, playing in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) helped me to remain focused,” Akmal said as quoted by Dawn News. READ: Pakistan announce squad for T20I series vs West Indies
Akmal said he wants to become a part of the ODI squad as well, after performing well in the T20Is. He said, “The upcoming series against Windies is very important for me. I want to help the team win so I can regain a spot in the One-Day International line-up.” READ: Pakistan replace Intikhab Alam with Wasim Bari as team manager
Akmal has been in fine touch , in T20s. He has scored, 304 runs at a mindblowing average of 101 runs in six matches for Lahore Whites, in the ongoing National T20 Cup. Akmal also scored an unbeaten 115 from 48 balls, when he hit Yasir Arafat for 34 runs in an over. He said, “I thank Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for granting me a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for CPL. My run in the league helped me to score runs in the domestic T20 cup which got me selected for the national side. I thank PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan for giving me confidence.” VIDEO: Umar Akmal smash 34 runs in a Yasir Arafat over
Akmal though also said, “I want to end my cricket career like Pakistan batting greats — Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Misbah-ul-Haq.”
