Re: do you think pakistan should play both Rehman and Ajmal
How about Chota Lota.. i.e. Umar Akmal..
Umar Akmal should be dropped if faking reports are true: Imran
PTI | Mar 15, 2011, 01.52pm IST
[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb.cms?msid=7708732&width=300&resizemode=4](javascript:showsld1();)[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo/5766056.cms](javascript:javascript:showsld1()
Pakistan’s cricketer Umar Akmal receives treatment for his left foot from a team official during a practice session in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo)
KARACHI: Former captain Imran Khan is not aware of the factual position of Umar Akmal’s alleged faking injury episode but said if it is true then the player should be dropped from the World Cup squad immediately and never be allowed to play for Pakistan again.
Commenting on reports that Pakistani batsman Umar had faked a finger injury after reports that his brother wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal might be dropped for the game against Zimbabwe in the World Cup, Imran said he was not aware of the factual position.
“But if these reports are true about any player faking an injury or showing attitude then the management and board must have no doubt on what needs to be done,” he said.
Imran said that the success he tasted as captain including the 1992 World Cup win was based on one simple policy.
“I had made it clear to every player, the selectors and the board that in my team there was no place for anyone who was not trying hard enough for the team or who wanted to play for himself and was a selfish player,” Imran recalled.
“I don’t know if the reports coming out of Sri Lanka are correct or not but if they are correct then such players need to be dropped from the team immediately and never be allowed to play for Pakistan again,” he said.
Sources in the Pakistan team said that the management while denying reports that Umar had faked his injury to avoid having to keep wickets in place of his brother had been told privately that he should be careful with his conduct and avoid getting into such controversies or his career could be short lived with the Pakistan team.
The former captain also lamented that the cricket authorities had messed up by not taking action against players accused of fixing matches.
“Something should have been done then. We are facing issues today. Now every time a match is played involving any team people raise doubts over the authenticity of the result and that hurts me a lot,” he said.
“For me as a former captain and player it is painful to hear these things because if people don’t believe in the credibility of the sport where is it going.”
He recalled how in a Sharjah tournament Javed Miandad had conveyed fears to him about some players probably being mixed up in fixing.
“I called a meeting and I told the players I know them well and I know how they play well. And if I even suspected anyone was not doing his best he would never play for Pakistan again and I would ensure he is sent to jail,” Imran recalled.
“I then had our manager, Intikhab Alam bet our money evenly on a Pakistan win and we won that final and after that I never saw or heard anything about our players being involved in such things,” he noted.
Imran said Pakistan’s biggest problem had been lack of discipline in cricket and there was a need to set this right.
“You give a clear message to a player and you will never read or hear about such things and problems in the team,” he said.
