Akmal brothers could face disciplinary action

Karachi:

Akmal brothers - Kamran and Umar -could face disciplinary action from the Pakistan Cricket Board for violating the terms of their central contracts by giving out statements to the Australian media that showed the team and affairs of national in poor light.

According to some sources, the Chairman of the board, Ejaz Butt had already directed Wasim Bari, the Chief Operating Officer, to look into the matter and see what clauses Kamran and his younger brother, Umar had violated with their statements to the media there.

Kamran, the vice captain of the team caused plenty of confusion and controversy when he told that despite the national selectors sending young wicketkeeper, Sarfaraz Ahmed to Australia, he would be playing the third Test in Hobart and he had no intentions of walking out despite a poor show behind the stumps in the Sydney Test.

Umar became the focus of another controversy and even prompted a statement from Australian captain, Ricky Pointing when he first said that he had a bad back and could not play in the third Test. Later scans showed that he was perfectly fine.

This prompted the Australian media and Pointing to question whether Umar had tried to fake his injury as a mark of support for his elder brother.

Sources also informed that the PCB was looking into the matter and would decide soon what penalties to impose on the brothers as players were not permitted to speak on team affairs to the media without permission of the manager.

"When the PCB pulled up manager, Abdul Raquib and coach, Intkhab Alam for allowing players a free hand to interact with the Australian media and cause more controversies, the formers made it clear that some players simply refused to follow instructions," a source said.

He said the PCB then made it clear that players should no longer be permitted free and frequent interaction with the Australian media.

"As a result of this, the management has now imposed a blanket ban on players speaking to the Australian media without clearance and permission of the management," the source added.