Mickey Arthur slams U Akmal after player accuses him of ending his career
Former Pakistan men’s cricket team coach Mickey Arthur has slammed sidelined cricketer Umar Akmal for his remarks that his career was sabotaged by the then coach. Umar, who did not play for Pakistan for a long time due to poor form and other controversial issues, blamed Arthur and other coach Waqar Younis for ending his career. In an interview to Cricket Pakistan, he claimed that Arthur always had personal issues with him and that he did not even have the support of the team management.
“Mickey Arthur had personal issues with me but at that time the team management did not raise his voice for me and he is silent till date. However, Mickey Arthur later admitted that he used harsh words on me. I am one of those rare people. I am one of the Pakistani cricketers who have been ignored at every turn,” Akmal made the tall claims during the interview.
Look in the mirror Omar!! https://t.co/VvZKio0WpP — Mickey Arthur (@Mickeyarthurcr1) June 14, 2022
Reaction to the claims made by Omar. Taking to Twitter, Arthur wrote a tweet: “Take a look in the mirror Omar!!”.
Omar did not stop here. He also slammed former coach Waqar Younis, saying that he deliberately pushed him down the order. Umar complained to Imran Khan who asked Waqar the reason for his demotion in the batting order but to no avail.
“I asked Imran Khan to recommend to the team management to send me at number three. Imran Khan himself asked Waqar Younis why I was not part of the top order. Waqar Younis was a great fast bowler, but I would like him Couldn’t understand as a leading coach,” said Umar Akmal.
Umar was dropped due to poor form and struggled to get back into the team due to fitness concerns. Despite being asked to become fitter, Umar ignored the calls. He was later banned for 18 months by the Pakistan Cricket Board for not violating the PCB’s code of conduct. Later the ban was reduced to 6 months. He and his brother Kamran have been regular offenders when it comes to maintaining basic fitness standards.