NEW LIFE? Umar Akmal will be looking to impress selectors with his fitness while playing for UBL when the domestic season kicks off in September. PHOTO: AFP
Middle-order batsman Umar Akmal has ended his 11-year association with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for the 2017-18 domestic season and will now represent United Bank Limited (UBL).
Umar, discarded from the national team and from Pakistan Cricket Board’s central contract due to fitness, has previously played 47 domestic matches for SNGPL. He scored 3,216 runs at an average of 45.29 courtesy four centuries and 20 fifties.
Ball in Umar’s court to make comeback: Arthur
His long-standing relation with SNGPL hit a road block last year when he left his departmental team to play for Lahore Whites without taking due permission.
However, despite his history of insubordination, UBL signed him for the domestic season which starts in September and have high hopes of helping the right-hand batsman turn the tide of time in his favour.
"He has been discarded from the national team, but we want him in our fold, and look forward to help him become a better player," UBL's Sports Head Mansoor Khan told ESPNcricinfo. "He is an asset; we want to work with him and help him revive his career.
Umar vows to return, stronger than ever
Mansoor added that Umar has been at fault for not living up to the talent that he possesses but UBL are ready to help him by giving him an opportunity.
"There are high expectations from him as he has the talent but has not been able to find middle ground,” he said. “He is an exciting and ambitious player, but he has not been able to get himself settled. He has immense talent and we want to him to get into shape. We want to give him an opportunity for his good and for Pakistan cricket."
Out of contract: Umar left out of PCB's future plans
Despite missing out on the central contract for the year 2017-18, Umar was asked to be a part of the on-going high performance camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. He excused himself citing a knee injury and has been training in England since then with his private trainer.
He returned to Pakistan on Friday in the hope of being named in the conditioning camp for the impending series against Sri Lanka in the UAE but head coach Mickey Arthur ruled out his inclusion by saying that he needs to prove himself fit before becoming a part of any future plans.
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