Umar Akmal gives Pakistan injury scare

[Mani2020]

---

---

PALLEKELE: Pakistan's Umar Akmal, who has been tipped to succeed his calamity-hit brother Kamran as World Cup wicket-keeper, suffered a finger injury in practice.

But team manager Intikhab Alam said scans had revealed no fracture for the middle order batsman.

"Umar hurt his index finger in the right hand while practicing on Thursday and we rested him as precaution. His scans were all clear," Alam told AFP.

Pakistan are considering handing the wicket-keeping gloves to 20-year-old Umar, the younger brother of Kamran who fluffed two chances in Pakistan's 110-run defeat against New Zealand on Tuesday.

Umar kept wicket in three Twenty20 matches and in a one-day international last year.

Pakistan take on Zimbabwe in their next Group A match on Monday where a win will guarantee a place in the quarter-finals.

Pakistan have six points from four matches, while Zimbabwe have two from their four.

[Mani2020]

could there be another twist waiting

[Jazzbot]

World Cup 2011: All eyes on the brothers Akmal | Cricket News | ICC World Cricket League | ESPN Cricinfo

A finger injury to Umar Akmal has lessened the chances of him replacing brother Kamran as Pakistan's wicketkeeper in the match against Zimbabwe on Monday in Pallekele. Though the injury to Umar's right index finger is not thought to be serious, it is unlikely now that the management will risk using him behind the stumps, allowing Kamran to probably retain his place in the XI despite his horror show in the 110-run loss to New Zealand on Tuesday.

Umar picked up the knock in fielding practice on Thursday at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy, when he also kept wickets for a while. He sat out the practice session on Friday at the same venue, with his finger in strapping. According to manager Intikhab Alam, scans and an x-ray revealed no damage but no risks were taken in putting him through a practice session.

In the immediate aftermath of the New Zealand game, captain Shahid Afridi said they would consider using Umar as a wicketkeeper - a role he has filled in one ODI and three T20s - after Kamran fluffed three chances, including missing centurion Ross Taylor twice in three balls when he was on 0 and 8. Since then, despite criticism from all quarters, Pakistan have spoken of the need to back Kamran though they've stopped short of confirming his place in the XI.

The timing and consequence of Umar's injury is bound to raise eyebrows, especially in light of what happened after the infamous Sydney Test in early January 2010. Then, after another poor display behind the stumps from Kamran hurled the side towards a stunning Test defeat, Umar reportedly refused to play the next Test in Hobart if his brother was dropped. Eventually Kamran was replaced by Sarfraz Ahmed, despite telling the press repeatedly in the run that he would retain his place. The brothers were both subsequently fined by the PCB after an inquiry committee looked into the incident.

As Umar sat out, Pakistan underwent an extensive, three-hours plus training session at the Asgiriya in which they simulated match-play in a bid to give their struggling openers some valuable batting time in the middle. With Waqar Younis umpiring and coaching, Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar took the new ball and bowled by turn to Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez, who in four matches have put on 11, 28, 16 and 5; the pair has 93 runs between them and neither has gone past 32 individually.

They didn't particularly flourish today, being dismissed a few times each as Abdur Rehman and Abdul Razzaq also bowled. "We especially focused on the top order in today's practice because they got out early in the previous games and didn't get much practice with the new ball," Misbah-ul-Haq said. "They practised for 20 overs so that they get used to it and have their confidence back. It was a good thing keeping in mind the match situation which will be helpful."

Eventually all players in the squad were given a run-out in the same situations; Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq batted together, Misbah and Afridi, Misbah and Razzaq and then Kamran and Razzaq; Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal, who have played only one match each, bowled in tandem, mixing with Junaid Khan and Afridi. Younis kept wickets while Kamran was batting.

Though the beginning of the session lacked the energy of previous practices - understandable perhaps given the nature of their loss - the contests soon picked up. "At the moment our focus is on our own game and we will try to restore our confidence levels which were shaken in the game against New Zealand," Misbah said. "We will try to line up all our basics in the game against Zimbabwe before and I have every hope that the side will bounce back."

All eyes, however, were on the brothers Akmal and particularly Kamran's keeping. He looked sharp and perky enough though there were a few fumbles as well. There was greater certainty with the bat, however, as he pulled and cut the faster bowlers to the boundary regularly while at the crease. Misbah sketched out the team line later, a growing show of support behind the wicketkeeper.

"It makes difference when you give such chances but then anyone can have a bad day, whether its keeper or anyone," Misbah said. "As a team we have to stay together. We're going to support each other, back each other because these are the players who commit mistakes and these are the same players who win you matches.

"It's mentally tough for him in this situation and he has faced such situations before too. Our full effort is to support him because wicketkeeper is a key member of the team and the way he is, the way he comes back in difficult situations and gives good performances I hope he will make a comeback and do well again."

[Gentle Typhoon]

Is he faking injury again to save his brother?

[Jinnah]

We should drop both of these blackmailers, if not now then just after the world cup

[@nline]

I think he i doing that just because of his brother Kamran Akmal.

[Spitballa]

Of course he is faking an injury. And of course Kamran is match fixing. Remember Kamran has already admitted to the PCB that a group of players, including Rana Naveed, and a few others all took an oath to under perform when Shoaib Malik was dropped as captain.

So we already now for a FACT Kamran Akmal is willing to throw matches, willing to make Pakistan lose on purpose.

WHy is the PCB allowing these players and bookies to control the Pakistan team? Is the PCB in on it? Have they been inflitrated by bookies, and are they making money of it?

There is an independent comitte for sports corruption in Pakistan, all they can do is make recommendations. And they have been openly saying the PCB is taking money from bookies. Fact.

Why is it Pakistan is the only team left with his humiliating problem?

[Evil Flare]

PCB itself is filled with all match fixers

[Spitballa]

The thing is, the bookies only have to have one or two selectors in their pockets, to get their players in the team.

The fact the team keeps selecting Kamran Akmal is very worrying in terms of how corrupt PCB is. I think its possible most of the PCB is not corrupt, I dont know...

The PCB has kicked out players like Mohammed Yousuf, Shoaib Malick, and Rana Naveed, who are all known trouble makers and match fixers. So all cannot be lost?

I hope some people find Kamran Akmals house and burn it down in Pakistan. And then they gut Kamran with a sharp knife.

[Frankenstein]

don't worry we have another promising player Asad Shafiq

[mikkix]

razzzaq should be kicked.

[@nline]

razzzaq should be kicked.

No, Brother,
Its kamran Akmal that should be kicked,

---------- Post added at 09:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:10 PM ----------

don't worry we have another promising player Asad Shafiq

Shiqoo The Great!

[fida jan]

We should drop both of these blackmailers, if not now then just after the world cup

i was also thinkin abt this, this omer akmal must learn how to be deciplined or else its his own career..

[Areesh]

could there be another twist waiting

It is the same old topi drama that he did in Australian tour.

[Spitballa]

---

---

Razzaq should definitely be kicked off the team, bros!!!!

His bowling is very weak now. He is not even fully fit!

The Akmals are a disgrace to Pakistan.

This is the second time Omer has pretended to be hurt when his brother was about to be or was dropped. PCB should be okay, we're sending you home. Drop him from the team for a year, and then see if he ever fakes an injury.

Kamran should be sent home right now, and put under the subject of a criminal investigation.