Umar Akmal makes explosive claim on PSL 2026 auction exclusion
Umar Akmal revealed that many PSL franchises were ready to take him for the PSL 2026, but his name was never shown on the auction screen.
Be a winner today!
Get the latest cricket updates, Join our community
Star Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal slammed Pakistan Super League (PSL) management for ignoring him despite his desperate attempts to return to the tournament. While he was once a great talent, he has missed the T20 franchise league for the last three seasons, including the ongoing season PSL 2026.
In a recent podcast, the 35-year-old Umar Akmal revealed that many PSL franchises were ready to take him for the PSL 2026, but his name was never shown on the auction screen, despite personally putting his name in the interest list. He claimed that he has the proof of messages, WhatsApp, and calls with the PSL franchise owners.
The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter further added that he also tried to talk with the PSL CEO Salman Naseer to at least pick his name on the auction screen, even if no franchise takes him. Umar has also threatened to expose them, which can destroy the remaining interest of the game for the Pakistanis.
Why is Umar Akmal not playing?
While Umar served for Pakistan last in October 2019, his last professional cricket match was in February 2024. However, the wicketkeeper-batter isn't only ignored due to his form issue, but also due to past disciplinary issues. In 2020, he was suspended from the game for three years for failing to report corrupt approaches. However, after his appeal, his suspension term was reduced to 12 months. Although the right-handed batter returned to the game after completing his suspension period, nothing was fruitful for his cricket career.
See Also: Watch: Mumbai Indians welcome Jasprit Bumrah with ‘Dhurandhar’ style video ahead of IPL 2026
Umar Akmal desperate to return
Umar was the leading run-scorer in the first edition of the PSL (2016), where he scored 335 runs in just seven innings with an average of 83.75 and a strike rate of 157.27, including four half-centuries with the best score of 93. However, he never managed to produce close to similar quality in the next PSL seasons, as he only managed to score 200+ runs in a season, which was in the PSL 2019, where the right-handed batter scored 277 runs in 10 innings.
In his PSL career, which he last played in 2023, Umar scored 1029 runs in 40 innings, with an average of 30.26 and a strike rate of 144.31, including eight half-centuries.
Apart from the podcast, Umar is also active on social media accounts, as the Pakistan cricketer has shown desperation for his comeback to the game. He represented Pakistan in international cricket for 16 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 84 T20Is.
Fans react to Umar Akmal's desperate attempt to return to game
Although Umar Akmal has shown strong desperation to return to the game, most fans have slammed him for using a threatening tone. A few fans have backed him by blaming the Pakistan cricket system, but the 35-year-old has received major criticism.
Tags:
