Umar Akmal lashes out at PCB

National cricketer Umar Akmal has openly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for excluding him from national team selection, accusing the board of age-based discrimination.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Umar claimed that players are being sidelined because of their age rather than their performance.

He said, "The PCB is biased in selection based on age," he alleged, adding that players like him, Ahmed Shehzad, and Sohaib Maqsood are being ignored because they are around 34 years old.

"We're told that we are too old to play or even become mentors, but then you see 43- and 45-year-old players still actively playing. What do you want us to do, shoot ourselves?" Umar said in frustration.

He also took a swipe at the fitness standards enforced by the PCB. "Some senior players and coaches have never even taken fitness tests, yet they talk about fitness all the time," he said.

Umar didn't hold back from criticising veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik either, stating, "Some senior players only prepare themselves to play in the PSL, leaving little room for emerging talent."

He raised concerns about the lack of fan engagement in the stadiums, saying, "When popular players are not given a chance to play in the PSL, why would fans come to the stadium?"

Addressing Babar Azam directly, Umar advised him to bat at number 3. "Babar is a great cricketer, but if he doesn't improve his performance, he could face challenges. PSL 10 is a crucial opportunity in his career," he said.

Umar Akmal hasn't played for the Pakistan national cricket team since 2019. He was suspended in February 2020 and later banned for three years by the PCB for violating the anti-corruption code. His ban was deemed to have come into effect on 20 February 2020.