Cricket star Umar Akmal. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE: Cricket star Umar Akmal was released on bail on Sunday, a day after his arrest for violating traffic rules and scuffling with a policeman.
The 23-year-old was charged with interfering with government work and "scuffling" with the policeman after he failed to stop at a traffic signal and refused to show documents on Saturday.
Traffic policeman Mohammad Zeeshan accused Akmal of tearing his uniform and assaulting him, charges the batsman denied.
Akmal's lawyer said the court allowed bail in the sum of Rs100,000.
"Akmal's bail has been confirmed," lawyer Wasim Mumtaz told reporters outside the court. "We will register our protest as Akmal was kept under unlawful detention."
A visibly upset Akmal later told reporters he had tried his best to comply with the law.
"It was a case of police showing their strength and I tried my level best to resolve the matter," said Akmal.
Akmal's father criticised the arrest.
"When our own people insult our national heroes then the rest of the world will also do this," said Mohammad Akmal. "It's insulting and unacceptable."
Akmal has played 16 tests, 89 one-day internationals and 52 Twenty20s for Pakistan in a career that began in 2009.
COMMENTS (16)
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Shame on his father for giving such a statement. No one should be above the law. He is no national hero just a slightly above average cricketer. Akmal family should be ashamed of their son and themselves for supporting him.
Umar Akmal must have refused to pay the necessary bribe. No big deal.
you are a hero when you are wearing the jersey on pitch. When you are off the pitch you are just simple ordinary person who is not above the law. People like you give the bad name to Pakistan. Your brother should be ashamed of saying "we play for Pakistan and should be respected" what do you mean by that? just because you play for Pakistan does not mean you can do what ever you want. He should not have been bailed out after that statement. if proven guilty which I hope he should be, then PCB should set an example by giving him fine for misbehaving, not following the law of Pakistan and destroying the image of Pakistani crickets in international community.
An illiterate hero. He should be ashamed of himself. That shows how low mentality he has.
“When our own people insult our national heroes then the rest of the world will also do this,” said Mohammad Akmal. “It’s insulting and unacceptable.”
How ignorant we are. Our celebraties and politicians a re all above the law. So Akmal driving an unregistered car, no duty given, breaking the law...expects that as he is a celebrity he and the rest are above the law????
@KJ:::No offence please.Now that the case is in the court of law and alleged offender is on bail we better not give our personal opinions about what happened.btw I am sure you were not there when the said 'violation' occurred,so we better keep quiet till the court's decision on the matter comes out
Being a sports icon does not give Umar Akmal the right to behave like a rogue. He had not paid his motor vehicle tax, was driving fast, broke a traffic light and than misbehaves with a cop in uniform. Is this the example he sets for other youth to follow. The trio are already controversial. It would have been better if he had spent night in lockup.
What i find most incredible with these comments is that the police has so much sympathy with the readers!
No one is above law. We have examples in UK where famous footballers likes Gerrard and John Terry got picked up by the local police. Umar Akmal. You cannot be above law eventhough you are so called national hero which i doubt incase of Umar Akmal, he has yet to prove that.
Keep up the good work my country men, revile, malign, humiliate your national heroes. You degraded the scientist (A.Q.Khan) who gave your generations a sense of security & pride against horrificially hostile neighbour.. The army men who fought for the pride of the nation are being vicitmized politically (see the ongoing judicial saga against ex army chief) & now this 23 years old, passionate cricketer is the next wound to our pride as a nation............ keep it up, at least sadistic pleasure is a great feeling to experience.
Only in pakistan law applies to poor people. Omar is still not ready to accept his any mistake in this case despite breaking the law!!
Hero.... Huhhh!!!
Its nice to hear that the police is doing somthin else ussually the high profile names just get away with almost everything.