Big Bash cancels Umar Akmal’s contract

Sydney Sixers claims Umar had a contract of five matches but was only going to play 1-2 matches as permitted by PCB.

The organisers at Australian Big Bash League (BBL) cancelled Umar Akmal’s contract on Tuesday a day after he was allowed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play the series, reported Express News.

The PCB on Monday had allowed Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Umar to play in the Twenty20 series after initially refusing permission. Afridi, however, had cancelled his contract with Big Bash expressing his willingness to play the domestic series.

Umar’s contract was cancelled because the team he was representing, Sydney Sixers, claimed that the player had a contract of five matches but was only going to play one or two matches as allowed by the PCB.

Umar’s brother Kamran Akmal had said on Monday that the middle-order batsman was contracted to play at least three matches for his side.

“Initially, Umar signed a contract for five matches but after the sudden change in the domestic schedule, he had to cut it down to three,” said Kamran. “But since he’s unlikely to play three matches due to the board’s permission, he’s unsure about his plans.”