“They blocked my career!” Umar Akmal exposes shocking truth about PSL, PCB & Waqar Younis

In a powerful and emotional revelation, former Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal has broken his silence on the struggles he faced throughout his career — blaming legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis for derailing his progress as a coach and shedding light on the inner politics of Pakistan cricket.

Umar Akmal said, “I don’t know why there’s so much negativity about me in the media. I only know that I’m doing the right work. It’s between me and Allah, and then my family.”

He described how personal choices, buying a car, and wearing good clothes were misrepresented. “If Allah has given me blessings, if I fulfill my own and my family’s needs, what’s wrong with that? Why should people make it a negative thing?" he questioned.

He also reflected on the pressures of social media and family exposure. “My wife told me that people make remarks about me. If my daughter sees these things, it’s not a good image. So I started sharing my good deeds, the things I do for my family, so people know the truth," he shared.

Battles within the system

Umar’s struggle was not limited to public perception. He has had tense relations with senior players and coaches, which he believes affected his career opportunities.

Speaking about former head coach Waqar Younis, he said:l, “Waqar Younis did a lot of damage to my career. If I bought a car or wore good clothes, that was a problem for him. I respect him as a senior player, but not as a coach.”

Umar also detailed how internal politics influenced team selection. “Even though I performed well, I wasn’t selected for domestic or PSL matches. Some people inside the system blocked me. People should see that I played for Pakistan and left leagues just for the national team which I can guarantee that no player from the current lot can as leagues give you a lot of money," revealed Umar.

On facing legal battles against the board, he said, “I am the first Pakistani cricketer to win cases against the Cricket Board. They had no evidence against me. If they had, I would have apologized and left Pakistan. But I won every case because I was right.”

Family as an anchor

Through all the struggles, Umar credits his family as his support system. “I share everything with my family. My parents, siblings, and my wife, know the truth. I am accountable first to Allah, and then to them. That’s more important than public opinion," he added.

He emphasized the importance of integrity over public approval. “I never hid anything from my daughter or my wife. I want them to know I stood up for what was right, no matter the consequences," he shared.

“If Allah has blessed me, why shouldn’t I enjoy it? My joy comes from fulfilling my own responsibilities and standing by my principles, not from people approving me," he added.

He reflected on his overall journey. “I’ve defended myself and my family. That’s why I'm sometimes not allowed to play. But I did what was right. And that is my victory," he said.

While answering why no PSL teams pick him, he said, “The owners of PSL teams pick you after reviewing your domestic cricket performance, how am I supposed to perform in the domestic circuit if all the roads following domestic cricket participation are blocked for me?”