(Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction. Learn to take a joke; you’ll live longer.)
LAHORE – Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq has revealed that contrary to popular opinion that the middle-order batsman is now completely out of favour, Umar Akmal has actually been rested to balance out India’s move to rest Virat Kohli.
Talking exclusively to The Dependent Inzamam said that Pakistan wanted to rest their star batsman because India has done the same to keep the Indo-Pak matches competitive.
“We didn’t want them to cry over their side not being full strength when they eventually lose, just like they’ve been crying over the scheduling and the supposed lack of rest that they are going to have before the match against Pakistan,” the chief selector said.
“Hence we felt that Umar Akmal – who has been compared to Virat Kohli in the past, mostly by his infinite family members and fake Twitter profiles – would be the best player to rest after India decided to rest their skipper.”
Inzamam also confessed that Akmal had been rested for over a year keeping in mind Pakistan cricket’s belief in fair competition.
“That’s why Umar Akmal will be rested for the World Cup next year as well,” the former Pakistan captain said.