Umar Akmal was joking, didn’t intend to hurt anyone: Kamran Akmal

Kamran Akmal, the veteran Pakistan cricketer, has come out in support of his younger brother Umar, who has gotten himself tangled in a controversy. During a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy, Umar was alleged for misbehaving with a trainer Yasir. The wicketkeeper batsman failed the skin-folding test and then apparently made some crude remarks to express his anguish.

For the time being, Umar faces a ban after the matter was reported to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Umar could now miss out on Pakistan’s next domestic tournament. Kamran, in defense of his brother, said that Umar didn’t intend to hurt anyone and a ban would be harsh. He said that Umar share a healthy camaraderie with the trainer and his brother’s action was in a lighter mood.

A ban would be very harsh: Kamran

“Umar and Yasir have studied together and are friends so I think whatever Umar said was in a lighter mood and he didn’t have any intention to misbehave with anyone,” Kamran was quoted as saying in Gsports show on GTV News Channel.

“But as usual this incident has been overblown in the media. Because Umar didn’t do anything intentionally. He was just joking. But if the PCB feels in its inquiry he has done something wrong they should caution and reprimand him. He can also apologize but a ban would be very harsh,” he stated.

Kamran also finds himself in a rabbit hole. He missed a couple of fitness tests and then failed when he finally appeared in the test. Kamran said that the duo knows the importance of staying fit in a chock-a-block calendar. Kamran mentioned that having playing cricket for Pakistan for more than 20 years, Kamran has always given his best shot.

“Even this season I have constantly played in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the national T20 championship without any problems with my match fitness and I have also performed well. I just think nowadays there is over stress on fitness rather than on improving match skills of players,” the 38-year-old added.

Umar made two comebacks in 2019, but he couldn’t deliver. He was also not considered for a berth in the national team for the World Cup in England and Wales.