Lahore, Nov. 15 (ANI): Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been dropped by his domestic team Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) from the President's Trophy over his poor form.
Akmal has been associated with SNGPL since 2007 and scored 2224 first-class runs for the department at 57.02. SNGPL are currently unbeaten in the President's Trophy- Pakistan's domestic first-class tournament - topping the table with 45 points after winning five of their six matches.
Akmal only featured in one game, against National Bank of Pakistan in mid-October. He played in two Twenty20s against an International XI led by Sanath Jayasuriya and in the Hong Kong Sixes in late October but mainly missed matches due to his brother Adnan's wedding between November 6 and 8.
"It's really discouraging for me when I was snubbed by my department for just a petty reason. I am in full practice and was meant to play most of the rounds but due to Adnan's wedding I had to miss most of the matches- a reason that was known to the management but still I am dropped. I was informed that it's a decision taken by higher management, and not the team management," the Daily Times quoted 22-year-old Akmal, as saying.
"I have scored a lot of runs with good average (35.82) and I think I have done well with my Test cricket. But perhaps because I play aggressively, the label is there. But I had a golden opportunity to play the President's Trophy to impress the selectors and win back my Test place. I am disappointed at being dropped (by the SNGPL)," he added.
Basit Ali, the SNGPL coach and former Pakistan batsman, said Akmal was dropped over his form and he need to work on his technique to play first-class cricket.
"He needs to learn how to bat in the longer-format of the game. No doubt he is a great talent but he must sense the nature of the formats and play according to the format. He wasn't in good touch and was asked to play club cricket," Basit said. (ANI)