Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal has hit back at Shoaib Akhtar’s criticism about him on Indian television. Shoaib Akhtar, who appeared with India’s off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Comedy Night With Kapil, made fun of Umar Akmal’s wicketkeeping and the former PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt. Akhtar also made insulting remarks about the state of cricket in Pakistan.
While replying to Akhtar’s comparison between him and Virat Kohli, Umar Akmal replied, “Unfair to compare me with Virat Kohli. We can only be compared when we bat in the same position in the batting order.”
Akmal further added, “Shoaib Akhtar sits on television criticising my wicket-keeping. We all know what his fielding was like when he played.”
VIDEO: Shoaib Akhtar makes fun of Kamran Akmal, Ijaz Butt and Pakistan Cricket
Earlier, Pakistan’s former fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz also crticised Akhtar by saying:
“I don’t know why he was so critical about Pakistan cricket on an Indian channel because I know that he is a patriotic Pakistani when he played for the national team.”
Out of favour wicketkeeper-batsman and Umar’s elder brother Kamran Akmal also criticised Akhtar’s comments by saying, Akhtar was a selfish player and he ran away from bowling the last over during Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in 2011.
In the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Umar Akmal has scored only 124 runs in 5 matches at an average of 24.80. Akmal has also dropped many catches behind the stumps and this is why Sarfaraz Ahmed was drafted into the playing XI for the match against South Africa. Ahmed justified his selection by scoring 49 runs and taking some spectacular catches.
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