PCB asks Akmal to undergo fresh MRI scan
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board has ordered a fresh MRI scan on young batsman Umar Akmal who claimed to be fit after returning home early from the Caribbean Premier League.
Umar returned to Lahore after being called by the PCB from the West Indies where he was playing in the CPL and is said to have suffered a epileptic fit while on a flight from Trinidad to Antigua.
"I am fit and there is nothing wrong with me. I have had some tests in the West Indies and they were clear. Such reports cause distress to my family and my fans," Umar said blaming the media for spreading unfounded stories about his fitness.
The PCB asked Umar to return to Pakistan in the company of an Indian doctor who accompanied him to New York and Abu Dhabi and named Sarfraz Ahmed as the replacement player for the series in Zimbabwe.
Umar, who had been handed the additional charge of keeping wickets on Pakistan's recent tour to West Indies, had stayed on in the Caribbean after the tour ended to play in the CPL.
UMAR, WHO HAD BEEN HANDED THE ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF KEEPING WICKETS ON PAKISTAN'S RECENT TOUR TO WEST INDIES, HAD STAYED ON IN THE CARIBBEAN AFTER THE TOUR ENDED TO PLAY IN THE CPL
The rigth-handed batsman said he had brought his medical reports with him and would also meet with the PCB chairman, Najam Sethi to clear up the matter.
But the Board was clearly not satisfied and after going through his medical reports ordered him t o undergo another MRI at the Shaukat Khanum hospital.
"We will get the reports tomorrow and will know the position clearly," a PCB source said.
Interestingly while Umar claimed at the airport that he was fit and ready to play, his elder brother Kamran Akmal had told reporters that his brother infact had a back pain. 'BLESSING IN DISGUISE' Meanwhile, former Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan has said that youngsters Adnan Akmal and Sarfraz Ahmed were ideal for the wicket-keeping job in the national cricket team, although Umar Akmal had also shown signs of improvement.
In an interview with pakpassion.net, Khan expressed that the fact that Umar Akmal was not available for the tour was a blessing in disguise for Pakistan as the youngsters could now take the responsibility. Khan also wished both Adnan and Sarfraz all the success on the tour, the report said.