Lashing out at Waqar Younis, Pakistan's controversial middle order batsman Umar Akmal has said that the former coach forced him to do wicket-keeping in Test matches and on refusal was threatened to be thrown out of the team.
“Talking about Pakistan cricket team, I accept that I refused to perform wicket-keeping duties in Test matches, however, I did wicket-keeping in limited overs cricket for three [to] four years,” said Akmal, during the finals of Pakistan Cup last night (Sunday).
“There our coach back then Waqar Younis told me to do wicket-keeping in Test matches, but I refused because we had a series ahead in Dubai, where Misbah ul Haq [the then skipper] used to play three spinners and one fast bowler,” Akmal added.
The middle order batsman said that he was of the view that wicket-keeping in those conditions would hamper his performance with the bat. However, Akmal claimed that his refusal didn’t sit well with Waqar Younis.
“I remember his [Younis] words, ‘I will see who will allow you to play cricket in the future,’ to which I pleaded that I want to play for my country,” Akmal claimed.
Earlier, Akmal publicly lashed out Pakistan’s current coach Mickey Arthur, leveling allegations that the head coach had used abusive language with him.
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