Karachi:
Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal will miss the first Twenty20 against New Zealand on January 15 after being slapped with a one-match ban for violating the ICC’s dress code during a domestic game here.
Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis told PTI that the ban was imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after Umar violated the code during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final here last week while playing for Sui Northern Gas.
“Apparently match referee Anwar Khan had warned him twice for wearing two logos instead of one in the match and he didn’t pay heed,” Waqar said before the national team’s departure for New Zealand early this morning.
Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam said Umar had committed a level one offence of the ICC rules governing dress codes.
Waqar said it was time Umar changed his attitude and focused on performing for Pakistan.
“Look he has been around now in international cricket since 2009 and it is time he establishes himself in the team and becomes a consistent performer,” the former Pakistan captain said.
“It is disappointing for the team management to find Umar getting involved in unnecessary issues. It is not helping his cricket career and not allowing him to focus on his cricket as well,” Waqar said.
After the 2015 World Cup, Waqar had submitted a report to the PCB advising the authorities to not select Umar and opener Ahmed Shehzad for the national team until they changed their behaviour and become more disciplined.
But after just one tournament, the national selectors picked both back in the side.
Umar is not part of the one-day squad in New Zealand and has only been picked for the T20 series.
Intikhab explained the one-match ban applied on both international and domestic matches. “It basically means that Umar is banned for his next match which happens to be the T20 in New Zealand.”
