Kamran Akmal has voiced his frustration after his brother Umar Akmal's name did not appear in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) player auction despite registering for the event.

 

The former wicketkeeper batsman took to X and tagged the Pakistan Cricket Board, PSL, and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi in his post. "Unfair system. Disappointed! Why was Umar Akmal's name not in auction?" he wrote. 

 

Unfair system….disappointed !!!!
Why was @Umar96Akmal’s name not in auction???#JusticeforUmarAkmal@TheRealPCB @thePSLt20 @MohsinnaqviC42

— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) February 11, 2026

 

Former cricketer Basit Ali also criticised the decision during a television show, questioning the logic behind this. 

 

"Umar Akmal's name is not there, and honestly, that shocks me. I don't know if we are wrong, or maybe we never really played cricket, because when you look at Pakistan's middle order and the talent Allah has given to so many players, I just don't see how Umar Akmal is being ignored," Basit said.

 

The omission sparked mixed reactions on social media. While some fans supported Kamran's stance, saying Umar deserved a spot in the auction and had been working hard, others questioned his recent match activity. 

 

"How many domestic games he played in last 1 year?" one user asked, while another commented, "Retired players are not allowed."

 

Umar Akmal has been regularly posting practice videos on social media but has not appeared in any domestic tournament recently. 

 

The auction, held on Wednesday in Lahore, was the first of its kind for the PSL. 

 

The league will feature eight teams for the first time, with new franchises Hyderabad Houston Kingsman and Sialkot Stallionz joining the competition. 

 

Multan Sultans, sold for Rs 2.45 billion after previous owner Ali Tareen left the team, have been renamed Rawalpindi.

 

The tournament will run from March 26 to May 3, 2026.