Former international Umar Akmal left another stain on Pakistan cricket after being proven guilty of match-fixing by PCB. As a result, Akmal was handed a three-year ban, adding to his long list of disciplinary charges.
Former cricketer turned commentator and analyst, Ramiz Raja, has slammed Umar with scathing remarks for wasting his talent.
Umar announced himself at the international stage with a ton on Test debut in 2009. Akmal’s knock against Australia in the 2009 T20 World Cup ensured that the future of Pakistan batting is in safe hands.
After a few years of international cricket, Umar struggled with consistency and fitness issues and finally went out of favour from the national side.
From engaging in brawls to being booked for rash driving and sent back home from Champions Trophy in 2017, Umar’s career spiralled downwards in recent years.
Umar Akmal banned from all cricket for three yearshttps://t.co/GLlmpDJwtA https://t.co/M2cp0A9vQV pic.twitter.com/rgIXZ32O6a
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) April 27, 2020
“So Umar Akmal officially makes it to the list of idiots! Banned for 3 years. What a waste of a talent!” Raja wrote in a tweet before adding, It’s high time that Pakistan moved towards passing a legislative law against match-fixing. Behind bars is where such jack a***s belong! Otherwise brave for more!!” wrote Ramiz through his recent tweet.
So Umar Akmal officially makes it to the list of idiots! Banned for 3 years. What a waste of a talent! It’s high time that Pakistan moved towards passing a legislative law against match fixing. Behind bars is where such jack asses belong! Otherwise brave for more!!
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) April 27, 2020
The likes of Pommie Mbangwa and Harsha Bhogle also joined in the conversation, talking about stringent measures to remove the fixing scandals plaguing Pakistan cricket.
This war seems to be being won by the bad guys, Rambo?
He’s quite high profile, isn’t he?
Do you think jail time would win the war?— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) April 27, 2020
Jail time could be a useful deterrent Pommie, possibly the last resort!! It’s like fighting covid 19, all will have to pitch in to save the cricket world: Fans, Boards, stake holders,law enforcement agencies, You & I. https://t.co/vuCHiDoWux
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) April 27, 2020
“To our east and to our west, I saw two extraordinary talents. Mohd Ashraful and Umar Akmal. It is who you are and what you make of your talent that determines how far you go. Talent by itself is so so inadequate,” tweeted Bhogle.
To our east and to our west, I saw two extraordinary talents. Mohd Ashraful and Umar Akmal. It is who you are and what you make of your talent that determines how far you go. Talent by itself is so so inadequate.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 27, 2020