The current captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam, has been counselled by former wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal to put aside their agenda and select his brother, Umar Akmal, for the team. Despite putting up strong performances at home, this comes after Umar was left off the team for the upcoming South Africa series.
Umar is a talented cricketer who should have the opportunity to compete internationally, according to Kamran, who expressed his disappointment in the selectors for ignoring him. He also asked Babar to consider that Umar has been in fantastic form in domestic cricket and that his addition might improve the team’s batting lineup.
Kamran’s remarks have drawn criticism from several cricket analysts and fans, who contend that players should be chosen exclusively on their merit and not on their relationships with other people. Umar Akmal has a history of conflicts and disciplinary troubles. He was once banned from playing international cricket for violating the PCB’s anti-corruption code.
Babar Azam is unlikely to follow Kamran’s counsel and risk upsetting the squad’s unity by adding a player with a history of misbehaviour because he has been outspoken about his focus on team culture and discipline.
It is still to be seen if Umar Akmal can rejoin the Pakistani team and disprove his detractors. For the time being, Babar Azam and the selectors must concentrate on assembling a team that will succeed against South Africa and raise Pakistan’s standing in the ICC Test Championship.
