While Kamran Akmal has been recalled to the national team after three years for Pakistan’s tour of West Indies, younger brother Umar Akmal had to sit out for a rather unusual reason – he was the only Pakistan player who didn’t pass the fitness test set by coach Mickey Arthur. And Inzamam-ul-Haq, head of the selection committee, had some very strong words to say on the issue.
“We had a set a fitness standard which isn’t really a tough one to start with,” Inzamam was quoted as saying. “But he still didn’t meet the average level. So whoever the player is, whatever his performance is like, we could not select him. Umar being dropped is a reprimand and it’s a major blow for any player. He is a good player, we needed him, but we had to take a decision.”
However, Umar had a different version to share about his fitness standard, he blamed his weight gain on his genetics.
“Even if we only drink water, it increases our weight,” Umar told Waqt News. “Only our brother Adnan has a biological system which does not show his heavy diet on his body,” he added.
He even added that he has been on a diet ,a BBQ diet only for the last two days to improve his fitness. “Along with that I am only taking salads and water but even this shows on my body,” he added.
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