Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan star batsman Umar Akmal has been directed to return from England after he failed two fitness tests in two days, ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy next month. The selectors are considering Umar Amin and Haris Sohail as replacements. Akmal had been recalled to the ODI squad for the Champions Trophy; he was dropped after Pakistan lost 4-1 to Australia in January. “He has failed two fitness tests during the ongoing camp there in England ahead of Champions Trophy,” a spokesman for the PCB said. “So since we have a policy not to carry unfit players, it has been decided to call him back and send a replacement. We have a deadline until May 25 so we are deliberating on the possible replacements.”

Amin and Sohail have not played ODIs for a few years. Amin’s last match was in October 2014 while Sohail played his last ODI in May 2015 in Lahore against Zimbabwe. Umar was recalled for the Champions Trophy after being dropped from the squad that beat West Indies 2-1 in April. He had initially been excluded from that squad after he was the only player, of 31, to fail the fitness test during the Pakistan camp held at NCA in March. However, he proved his fitness during the Pakistan Cup in Rawalpindi, where he led Punjab.

In an annual assessment earlier this year, Umar had weighed 91kgs with a fat-level reading of 115.6 – a measurement of over 100 is considered high. Fitness in the Pakistan camp has taken precedence in the recent past with the PCB backing the selectors and the team management to enforce strict policies. “We had a set a fitness standard which isn’t really a tough one to start with,” chief selector Inzamamul Haq said. “But he still didn’t meet the average level. So whoever the player is, whatever his performance is like, we could not select him. Umar being dropped is a reprimand and it’s a major blow for any player. He is a good player, we needed him, but we had to take a decision.” Umar has also been involved in several disciplinary issues since his debut. In March last year, former coach Waqar Younis recommended that Umar, along with Ahmed Shehzad, needed to earn back his spot in the national squad with consistent performances in domestic cricket. Earlier this month, Umar was also involved in a spat with Junaid Khan during the Pakistan Cup. Both players were fined for misconduct and put on probation for six months.