'Outside' influence regarding Umar Akmal's continued selection

[Saj]

So people are wondering why he keeps getting selected, despite indiscipline, average to poor performance with the occasional good display.

Why is it that despite off-field problems, continuous controversy and a less than flattering career so far, he keeps getting picked?

Well I was speaking to a former player who knows the Pakistan cricket system very well and is still in touch with the comings and goings of Pakistan cricket and he was saying that Umar Akmal's selection is down to outside (non-cricketing) influence and the selectors are told to pick him, with no choice of not picking him.

The influence and instructions come from a very high authority within Pakistan and the selectors, coach etc cannot stop this.

 

[Usman Chadda]

There is a massive lobby on some media houses right now, clutching at straws trying to justify how this pathetic waste of a player still deserves a place in the national team.

91 kgs and people have the gall to say he is fit. Sickening.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[Savak]

If a player without any achievements like Akmal junior can have such a powerful connection to get into the team then the players with such a solid track record but having no powerful connections, contacts should hang their head in shame.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

The Akmal mafia has troubled Pakistan cricket for almost a decade now.As for Junior,we know who his father in law is...

 

[syed abbas]

Brilliant from Mickey for taking such a bold step.

 

[sshakir411]

hardly a surprise...a lot has been invested in the Akmals by these outside influences. Akmals also have made sure they repay their supporters with what they ask.

 

[MenInG]

Not many players can do anything at an international level without a lobby.

 

[srh]

So people are wondering why he keeps getting selected, despite indiscipline, average to poor performance with the occasional good display.

Why is it that despite off-field problems, continuous controversy and a less than flattering career so far, he keeps getting picked?

Well I was speaking to a former player who knows the Pakistan cricket system very well and is still in touch with the comings and goings of Pakistan cricket and he was saying that Umar Akmal's selection is down to outside (non-cricketing) influence and the selectors are told to pick him, with no choice of not picking him.

The influence and instructions come from a very high authority within Pakistan and the selectors, coach etc cannot stop this.

Saj can you mention if that high authority is civilian or military?

 

[wasimjunior]

So why is that authority only pushing him and not his brother too? Pretty skeptical of this

 

[Yaasir]

I have heard this before. I'm pretty sure it has to do with UA father in law...Abdul Qadir and his cronies.

 

[GreenShirts]

Not many players can do anything at an international level without a lobby.

An example of this is Fawad Alam!Poor guy toiled so hard in domestics for so many years.

 

[Saj]

Saj can you mention if that high authority is civilian or military?

I know who it is but at this stage cannot say the name.

All the way to the top..........

 

[Saj]

So why is that authority only pushing him and not his brother too? Pretty skeptical of this

And who said his brother wasn't also being 'pushed'.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Only way Umar Akmal can get into the team.

 

[LordJames]

So people are wondering why he keeps getting selected, despite indiscipline, average to poor performance with the occasional good display.

Why is it that despite off-field problems, continuous controversy and a less than flattering career so far, he keeps getting picked?

Well I was speaking to a former player who knows the Pakistan cricket system very well and is still in touch with the comings and goings of Pakistan cricket and he was saying that Umar Akmal's selection is down to outside (non-cricketing) influence and the selectors are told to pick him, with no choice of not picking him.

The influence and instructions come from a very high authority within Pakistan and the selectors, coach etc cannot stop this.

Then what was the reason for publicly failing him and sending him packing? Wouldn't the same individual(s) now look for retribution?

Is it Mickey who took this decision or Inzi? Or what broke the Camels back?

They have clearly decided to take this authority on? What changed?

 

[Savak]

I know who it is but at this stage cannot say the name.

All the way to the top..........

Sethi? Nawaz Sharif?

 

[LegendInzi]

Sethi? Nawaz Sharif?

Must be Asad Shafiq. Can't get higher than that.

 

[ataullah]

So inzi shouldnt be blamed for his selections?

 

[Gabbar Singh]

What does the higher authority get out of it? Money?

 

[MRSN]

no offence to Saj but I strongly challenge the credibility of this. Umar Akmal is one of the rare batsman in this Pakistan ODI team that deserve to be in the team based on skills. Yes he is going through bad patch and his fitness is not best either but to say he needs some influence to get into the side is just hogwash.

What influence does Umar Akmal have when he is picked in major leagues?

 

[Saj]

Then what was the reason for publicly failing him and sending him packing? Wouldn't the same individual(s) now look for retribution?

Is it Mickey who took this decision or Inzi? Or what broke the Camels back?

They have clearly decided to take this authority on? What changed?

Obviously the coach had enough and he was backed by the Chairman.

 

[Saj]

no offence to Saj but I strongly challenge the credibility of this. Umar Akmal is one of the rare batsman in this Pakistan ODI team that deserve to be in the team based on skills. Yes he is going through bad patch and his fitness is not best either but to say he needs some influence to get into the side is just hogwash.

What influence does Umar Akmal have when he is picked in major leagues?

You are entitled to your opinion but my source knows Umar well and has worked with him too.

As for Major leagues? What happened in the CPL? At Leicestershire he wasn't exactly well-liked. Has not exactly set the world alight in these t20 leagues has he.

 

[MMHS]

Sethi? Nawaz Sharif?

Mian Sharif has enough in his plate already, I don't think he even knows Umar. My hunch is Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab CM; but I might be wrong. But, it's not likely someone from PCB hierarchy, in that case Arthur won't have taken such stand.

 

[Hamza_]

Hopefully we get rid of him forever.

 

[Savak]

Mian Sharif has enough in his plate already, I don't think he even knows Umar. My hunch is Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab CM; but I might be wrong. But, it's not likely someone from PCB hierarchy, in that case Arthur won't have taken such stand.

Dont think Arthur is shy of calling a spade a spade. We have seen his blunt statements and decisions against the Pakistani players i.e. Hafeez, Mohd Irfan, Sohail Khan and now Umar Akmal and how he ruthlessly tongue lashes the players in front of the cameras when they need a kick up their back sides. He will go to war against the President, PM of Pakistan if need be but will not tolerate crap.

 

[Savak]

Then what was the reason for publicly failing him and sending him packing? Wouldn't the same individual(s) now look for retribution?

Is it Mickey who took this decision or Inzi? Or what broke the Camels back?

They have clearly decided to take this authority on? What changed?

I believe this latest episode and decision was deliberately done to drive home the message to UA that even if the underworld don's pressurize his selection in the team, he isn't going to play or be selected if he does not turn up to the team 100% fit.

 

[PakLFC]

The Akmal's have strong political connections. I am glad that some coach is taking a stand but getting rid of this menace permanently.

 

[wasimjunior]

I know who it is but at this stage cannot say the name.

All the way to the top..........

Fair enough this doesn't surprise me. But the akmals aren't exactly from a well off family or belong to some sort of heirarchy- say, like a Shan Masood.


What incentive is there to back him so much for the backer in question?

 

[Shafi]

Should be banned for life to get rid of such a worthless player.

 

[phoenix363]

Ahmed Shehzad atleast to his credit gets into less controversies off the field vis a vis UA and his fitness is much better than UA's, you can tell he makes the effort to stay fit in the gym which is what UA should be doing without anyone needing to ask or tell him.

True but the point stands, that his perfomance has been average to poor and he has had off field issues, second only to Umar. There must be a reason he was singled out along with Umar by a departing Waqar.

Fitness alone means nothing. It is a pre-requisite you need to have in order to even be considered, but the team should be picked on ability and discipline. No justification for Shehzad's inclusion by saying he is fit.

 

[Savak]

True but the point stands, that his perfomance has been average to poor and he has had off field issues, second only to Umar. There must be a reason he was singled out along with Umar by a departing Waqar.

Fitness alone means nothing. It is a pre-requisite you need to have in order to even be considered, but the team should be picked on ability and discipline. No justification for Shehzad's inclusion by saying he is fit.

They probably gave Shehzad another series to establish himself. He did score a few 50's in the WI series in the T-20's, ODI's and Test matches. Would have been harsh to drop him right now.

 

[phoenix363]

They probably gave Shehzad another series to establish himself. He did score a few 50's in the WI series in the T-20's, ODI's and Test matches. Would have been harsh to drop him right now.

He did, but his innings were extremely selfish and his overall return for the series was exceedingly poor despite those 50's. Kamran Akmal is my most disliked player, yet I will admit he at least did not play selfishly and on batting alone was better than Shehzad, and had better PSL form coming into the series.

Linking it back to the thread, I think his selection in the squad does not appear to be on merit alone either.

Interesting that both him and Umar, and perhaps Junaid to smaller level, are the three least deserving members of the original squad and are the ones with some disciplinary issue too.

 

[msb314]

I know who it is but at this stage cannot say the name.

All the way to the top..........

If it is who I think you are talking about it - then this is just

 

[KyoOne]

Thats terrible.

I heard this a while ago on some channel as well. The Akmal dynasty has been such a torture for the cricket team. Hope no more of either of them under Mickey

 

[www787]

So, does that mean if Pakistan lose CT, Mickey will be given one way ticket to Australia?

 

[Xoib]

Had Umer shown discipline hard work and good attitude he would have been a top 5 all formats batsmen already its sad he has to resort to such antics to get in the team he was far more capable then this.

 

[srh]

Someone who is consistently in power for the last couple of years is behind his selection to exert that kind of influence. Sethi is a good bet so is Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif or Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

 

[Asim2Good]

Its easy answer in Pak in ALL fields. And they don't dare to name that under whose orders he has been selected.

Selector might be selecting him only on 2 basis
1: "ability" as a batsman on which many here on PP support/want his selection
2: PCB don't want to waste their investment like that, hoping that he ll learn from his mistake.

 

[This&That]

Someone who is consistently in power for the last couple of years is behind his selection to exert that kind of influence. Sethi is a good bet so is Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif or Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

A certain "Ali Imran" who happens to be the son in law of a famous politician

 

[GullyCricketFlop]

It's pretty obvious that his skills alone are not what get him into the team every time,even when he's poor on fitness and form.Hope this guy is never selected again.What a disappointment.

 

[JibranAnsari]

I think if you 100 % sure that their is an outside influence then you can name and shame him , if its just a rumor we should not allow a room for speculation here.

 

[dauntless]

I don't think so his record is still better than most of batsman he has everything to be a successful batsman he is just not doing enough handwork if he improves his fitness he can become a very good batsman.
Meanwhile inzi selected him cause they wanted a batsman who can hit big in end overs nothing else.

 

[Snak3eye5]

If it goes all the way to the top then its Sethi for sure. It cannot be anyone else. No one else in the government is inteersted in cricket. They have bigger fish to fry and don't have time..unless they personally have some relatiion with Akmal..

 

[asma_cricfan]

If any other cricketer had his videos of dancing with unknown girls viral, he would be thrown out for a long time.
Not only that, umar had atleast 3 to 4 police cases on him ranging from verbal to physical confrontation with police, traffic police, stage organizer, model girls etc.

Nobody in pakistan crucket can do these things unless they have more than strong backing from not only pcb but political and fixing rackets.

 

[HateKiller]

Must be Asad Shafiq. Can't get higher than that.

Or maybe Zulfiqar Babar.

 

[Saj]

End of the day Mickey Arthur isn't Pakistani and doesn't fear the system like Pakistani coaches do. Good on him to stand his ground.

 

[BA56]

End of the day Mickey Arthur isn't Pakistani and doesn't fear the system like Pakistani coaches do. Good on him to stand his ground.

Poor Mickey. This is Pakistan cricket you are either a man of the system or the leash is shortened and every failure is magnified.

The inevitable failure at the Champions Trophy will lead to calls for Mickeys head and that will be the end of the line. Time to get a man of the system in.

 

[waleed88]

So people are wondering why he keeps getting selected, despite indiscipline, average to poor performance with the occasional good display.

Why is it that despite off-field problems, continuous controversy and a less than flattering career so far, he keeps getting picked?

Well I was speaking to a former player who knows the Pakistan cricket system very well and is still in touch with the comings and goings of Pakistan cricket and he was saying that Umar Akmal's selection is down to outside (non-cricketing) influence and the selectors are told to pick him, with no choice of not picking him.

The influence and instructions come from a very high authority within Pakistan and the selectors, coach etc cannot stop this.

Wasn't there a case of Zulqarnain Haider leaving the test side, because of threats to his life when he looked set to ouster Akmal from the ODI and Test squad..

 

[waleed88]

End of the day Mickey Arthur isn't Pakistani and doesn't fear the system like Pakistani coaches do. Good on him to stand his ground.

When Waqar took a stand against the Akmals, he was accused of Bias, Chaudhrahat, and extremely arrogance as a coach..

 

[Poison]

Distinct smell of sauce here.

Why was he punted for weighing 91kg? How did Sharjeel get a consistent run despite being 100kg+?

Not a big fan of using weight as a measure of cricketing fitness, and not sure if our COS would agree with it either