Umar Akmal is innocent until proven guilty: Basit Ali

Former middle-order batsmen says controversy emerged because of false reporting by a Sindhi newspaper

Former Pakistan middle-order batsman Basit Ali has defended Umar Akmal, saying the latter was innocent until proven guilty.

Umar was dropped from the T20 team after reports emerged he was taken into police custody from a dance party in Hyderabad.

“It was Umar Waheed, who is a tape-ball player.  He was caught, not Umar Akmal,” said Basit, who is also the junior selection committee head, while talking to the Express News on Friday.



“This controversy is all because of a false reporting from a Sindhi newspaper.”

Basit also refuted claims made by former captain Aamer Sohail, who allegedly accused him to be the reason for Umar Akmal’s omission from the team.

“He did not mention my name, but I know it was me whom Amir Bhai was talking about,” said Basit.



“If anyone can prove Umar is being punished because I don’t like him, than I am ready for any punishment.”

Basit asked the media to avoid publishing anything without confirmation, as it affects families of the accused.

"Please avoid publishing news without confirmation. It affects our families," said Basit, while talking to reporters in Lahore later in the evening.

If media would have been as free as it is today, a lot more names would have come up in such controversies after the 1992 World Cup victory, the committee head added.