Umar Akmal returns to national cricket academy amidst controversial claims

After a prolonged period of being out of the spotlight, Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Umar Akmal has been granted access to the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Akmal himself shared the news on social media, posting a video of his training session at the facility.

On the social media platform ‘X’, Akmal expressed his gratitude to Director of the High-Performance Center, Aaqib Javed, for the opportunity. This development marks a significant step for the cricketer, who has been working on a potential comeback to the national team.

thank you very much, Aqib bhai #nca 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/5IYoYi2dAB

— Umar Akmal (@Umar96Akmal) August 21, 2025

The news of Akmal’s return to the NCA comes after a series of controversial and emotional statements he made in recent interviews. In a conversation with a private TV channel, Akmal revealed that he doesn’t want his son to pursue a career in cricket.

“I don’t want my son to play for Pakistan because I don’t want what happened to me to happen to him,” Akmal had said, adding that despite his wishes, his son is passionate about the sport.

In another interview, Akmal made a serious allegation, claiming that he was deliberately kept out of the national team. He alleged that phone calls were made to prevent his selection.

He named a former captain, Raza Ali Dar, stating, “I can even give you his number, and you can call to confirm. He received calls from higher up in the cricket board telling him not to play me.”

Akmal praised Dar for his support during that time, recalling, “However, that captain took a stand for me, saying ‘How can I not play him? How can I bench a batsman like Umar Akmal?'”

These statements shed light on the challenges and internal politics Akmal claims to have faced during his career. His return to the NCA now opens a new chapter, as he looks to rebuild his path in professional cricket.