Akmal has been in headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent times.
Pakistan’s out-of-favor batsman Umar Akmal can be undoubtedly considered as one of the most controversial figures in Pakistan cricket and that’s the main reason behind his derailed career despite being regarded as a hugely talented cricketer in the country.
Having recently skipped two fitness tests, and then misbehaving with an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, Akmal has last month engrailed himself in a career-threating controversy.
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The controversy-prone batsman was charged for two violations of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB's Anti-Corruption Code in unrelated incidents by the PCB and also provisionally suspended in February after he failed to disclose the match-fixing approaches made towards him.
His career is now in serious danger as Akmal can be given a lifetime ban from all forms of cricket if he gets convicted of match-fixing charges.
With the PCB reviewing and examining Akmal's response regarding the latest episode, Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq made it clear that no one can do anything in Akmal’s case, saying the 29-year-old’s destiny is in his own hands now.
Misbah further went on to strongly advise the troubled right-hander to discipline himself and focus on cricket if he wants to get his bitter-sweet career back on track in the future.
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As per reports in AFP, Misbah said: “You and I can't do anything. Umar has to decide himself, show discipline and focus on his cricket. He has to make a decision about whether he wants to remain like this... He has shown good performances but needs to improve his fitness, discipline, and commitment.”
Noteworthy, Akmal was earlier also charged and arrested after a scuffle with a traffic warden in 2014, and then three years later he was asked to return home from England after he failed back to back two fitness tests in two days ahead of the Champions Trophy 2017.
(With AFP Inputs)