The cold war between runaway wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider and Kamran Akmal is taking new twist as the board has advised Haider to avoid controversies.
Haider accused the Akmal brother – Kamran and Umer – of their involvement in the removal of Shahid Afridi while Kamran threatened legal action and when a PCB official was asked about the issue, he said that Haider had ‘gone mad’.
“The board advised Haider to concentrate on his cricket and refrain from giving comments on any issue or speaking against any cricketer but he is not listening and is playing with his own career,” the board official added.
Another official said that he did not have any solid proof to back his statement. “We are ready to take action but we must have something in hand to move ahead,” he said. Haider said that the Akmal brothers were involved in politicking. He alleged that Waqar Younis also took part in lobbying against certain players. On Mazhar Majeed, the agent at the center of the spot fixing controversy, Haider said Majeed was seen with several players and he was interested in making him his agent but was stopped by senior players.
Haider also thanked former sports minister Ijaz Jhakrani for including him in the team on the basis of performance.
Haider played his first match after return for ZTBL. An official said that Haider was probably emboldended by the appointment of his ZTBL boss Zaka Ashraf at the helm in the PCB. But he said even this could backfire as Zaka was known to be tough on discipline.
Sources in the PCB said there was no link between Haider and the newly appointed chairman Zaka Ashraf, who is yet to take charge of office. This is not the first time he has spoken speaking against Akmal brothers. Previously he said that they were behind his non selection in the Lahore teams and reports said that he asked Multan and Karachi region but was denied. However, ZTBL allowed him place in the team.. Kamran said there was no need to respond to his remarks but added: “I would consider taking legal action against him. Afridi can respond to his claims as well. If we were involved in politics, why are we out of the team then?” Afridi had alleged that a lobby in Punjab was working to get him sacked “The Akmal brothers used to work as a lobby to ensure their place in the team,” claimed Haider. “They are involved in politicking and they are also involved in the removal of Afridi from the team.”
