Champions Trophy: Umar Akmal to return after failing fitness test

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shahryar Khan has confirmed that batsman Umar Akmal is being withdrawn from Champions Trophy squad after failing two fitness tests in Pakistani team’s camp ahead of the tournament in the UK.

Following reports that Akmal has failed the fitness tests during Pakistan team’s camp in Birmingham, the chairman PCB Shahryar Khan said that PCB will not keep an unfit player with the squad.

"He (Umar Akmal) has failed two fitness tests during the ongoing camp in England ahead of Champions Trophy," PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told a website.

“We have a policy not to carry unfit players, it has been decided to call him back and send a replacement,” he added.

Pakistan Cricket Board can name a replacement by May 24 and, according to Shahryar, the board is already considering different options for the replacement.

A team source in Birmingham added that Haris Sohail is likely to be called as replacement of Umar Akmal, although Umar Amin’s name was also under consideration.

“There are two names, Haris and Umar Amin, but a final decision is to be made in Lahore on Monday,” the source said.

This is not the first time that Umar Akmal has come under fire for poor fitness. He also failed the PCB’s annual fitness assessment test earlier this year and was, subsequently, dropped from the squad for the tour to the West Indies.

He was, however, recalled to Champions Trophy after a reasonable performance in Pakistan Cup earlier this year.

The 26-year-old batsman was recently in hot waters for disciplinary issues as well and was fined 50% of his match fees by PCB for public outburst against a teammate Junaid Khan during the Pakistan Cup.