Selectors, team management spoilt Umar's career: Kamran Akmal

Karachi: Discarded Pakistan wicketkeeper, Kamran Akmal has blamed the national selectors and Pakistan team management for spoiling the career of his younger brother, Umar Akmal.

Kamran said he was not happy that those who make team decisions had persisted with Umar as a wicketkeeper in T20 and ODI matches.

Umar Akmal

"It is not fair because Umar was not keen to take on this dual role as he is primarily a batsman not a keeper," said Kamran, who has been sidelined by the selectors from the Test side since 2010 and ODI side since last year.

Kamran, 32, said the dual role given to his brother had affected his game and his batting had suffered. "He was not keen on this dual role and he told the authorities but they still insisted he should also keep wickets. It is unfair on him," he added.

The Pakistan team management and selectors have tried Umar as keeper batsman since last year in T20s and ODIs and in recent times his form in both jobs has taken a downward spiral.

Kamran said that the selectors should groom and develop players with the team management not spoil them. He pointed out that Umar was still young and if allowed to focus on his batting he can serve Pakistan cricket for many more years.

The selectors apparently have decided not to give Umar the responsibility of keeping wickets in the ODIs for the coming Australia series but whether he will keep in the T20 matches remains unclear.

Interestingly, Umar is keeping wickets for the Lahore Lions team in the ongoing Champions League event.