'Stay out of it,' advises Kamran Akmal to Babar Azam's father
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has weighed in on Azam Siddique's recent criticism of former cricketers, advising that family members should refrain from making public statements regarding a player's career.
Siddique, the father of Pakistan batter Babar Azam, had taken to Instagram to express his frustration over criticism directed at his son following a disappointing Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. His post came a day after Babar was omitted from Pakistan's T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand.
'Despite being part of the ICC's T20 Team of the Year, he was dropped. It's fine; he will perform in the National T20 and PSL. Insha Allah, he will make a comeback,' Siddique wrote.
He also took aim at former cricketers for their remarks about Babar's form.
'They are very big former players, but they should choose their words wisely. If someone responds, they may not tolerate it. You are the past, and that door will never open,' he added.
Kamran Akmal, speaking on the matter, advised that players' families should refrain from public statements.
'I went through a tough time in my career. I understood everyone but told my father and brothers that it wasn't their job to respond or speak on my behalf. Every player's family should follow this policy,' Akmal said.
The former wicketkeeper-batter also criticised public statements against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
'I don't think it is appropriate to speak against the institution,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Olympian Sabrina will attempt to climb K2
"I really did it, finally arrived in Skardu 2 days ago, after an incredibly difficult and challenging day from Gilgit to Skardu," the four-time Olympian judoka Sabrina Filzmoser texted as she achieved the incredible feat of becoming the first woman in Pakistan's history to complete the journey of 2,324 km in just 10 days. This is the first time a female cyclist has covered a long-distance ride in such a short time under extreme weather conditions, according to the Pakistan Judo Federation. Sabrina has been a breath of fresh air for the local judo clubs, as well as along the way, where she trained with the youngsters, highlighting the conditions they are pursuing in the sport. The greatest feature of Sabrina's journey has been her open-hearted interactions with the people on the road and those she met at her stops. She has been featuring Pakistani music on her Instagram as well as the incredible moments from her experience on Pakistani roads. Her efforts show that she has been immersed in the Pakistani culture through her incredible initiative. This is also the second time that the 2011 and 2008 European Judo Championship gold medallist is in Pakistan, previously she visited and trained the locals in judo and cycling on her journey in 2023. But this time it is different because the 44-year-old is fulfilling her aim of riding from the sea level to K2. On her reaching in Skardu Sabrina reflected on her effort with joy and pride. "It was a challenging day from Gilgit to Skardu, 14 hours on the road, rain, heat, headwind, crosswind, mudslides, rockfalls, blockages, technical issues, but it's all done and dusted. Safely in Gilgit-Baltistan," she text this correspondent on Thursday. "Now I will spend time preparing for the expedition, working on the permits, train with the Baltistan cycling club and the Judokids. "Then there'll be a possible one further section on MTB to Askole, probably starting in 10 days, and from there we'll the trek on the Baltoro glacier. "K2 base camp is very remote, we need at least 1 week to reach it from Askole. Afterward acclimatization period will start, and the actual K2-climbing is possible in a short window end of July/beginning of August." The Austrian athlete covered 2,324 km on her bike, the total altitude she gained was 118,386 meters, and spent 111.45 hours on the road, according to the statistics shared by the Pakistan Judo Federation secretary Masood Ahmed. Sabrina has taken up this journey on her own resources, however, the PJF is helping with logistics wherever they can. Sabrina began her journey when she arrived in Karachi on May 21. She immediately took to her engagement with the media and the Sindh Olympic Association, went to the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and cycled her way from the Seaview. She then went on to complete the first leg upwards from Karachi to Hyderabad and then Sukkur in sweltering temperatures of 48 to 52 degrees Celsius. From there onwards she reached Rahim Yar Khan to Lahore and then the nation's capital in Islamabad. Later the International Judo Federation Athletes' Commission chairperson went ahead to Gilgit-Baltistan. Break for the International Judo Fed meeting Sabrina will resume her ambitious project of climbing K2 after a week's break. She returned to Islamabad after spending a few days in Skardu and will be leaving for Budapest on June 7 due to her commitment to the IFJ. "I just arrived in Islamabad and will leave for an important commitment as the chair of the IJF athletes commission to the Judo world championships in Budapest," Sabrina updated this correspondent. "I will be back in Islamabad on 14.6. next day to Skardu from where I further continue my way to K2." After attending the IJF meeting on 11 June 2025, the two-time World Judo Championship bronze-medallist will resume her mission from Skardu to the K2 base camp and then the K2 summit attempt upon her return. She is expected to return to Islamabad again around August 2025, after the conclusion of the second phase of her mission, according to the PJF press update. Key stats from Sabrina's Garmin Edge device: Total distance: 2,324 km Total altitude gained: 118,386 meters Time on road: 111.45 hours.
Express Tribune
12 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Salman Agha tipped to become Pakistan's all-format captain
Salman Agha is all set to become Pakistan's all-format national cricket team skipper after impressing selectors and new white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, sources told The 31-year-old was appointed Twenty20 international skipper for the Zimbabwe leg of the tour to give regular skipper Mohammad Rizwan rest but Salman has impressed with his clarity of thoughts and resolve in the short period. "Salman has been impressive in the opinions of the selection committee, new head coach Hesson and, above all, the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Mohsin Naqvi. All are on the same page that he should be the all-format captain," said the sources. A decision is likely to be announced after the Eid holidays. The decision means ODI skipper Mohammad Rizwan has lost favours with the PCB and the selection committee in which the strongest influence is that of Aaqib Javed, added sources. Rizwan was at the loggerheads with Aaqib on the tour of New Zealand where Pakistan lost the ODI series. Rizwan publically criticised lack of authority as skipper in matters of selection on the New Zealand tour. Pakistan lost the ODI series in New Zealand 3-0 which came on the back of a disastrous Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at home where the team crashed out in the first round. Test skipper Shan Masood was also tipped to be sacked after Pakistan lost nine out of 12 Tests under his captaincy since December 2023. Masood's worst phase was a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Bangladesh, Pakistan's first loss against the lowly ranked team. Pakistan also drew a relatively easier series against the West Indies 1-1 last year. That defeat left Pakistan on the ninth and last position of the World Test Championship's third cycle. They finished fifth and seventh in the first two WTC cycles. "Masood's captaincy was unimpressive and timid, so he was destined to lose captaincy. Moreover, Masood's own performance was poor so Salman will also take over from him," the sources said. Pakistan's next tour is of Bangladesh for a three-match T20I series with matches on July 20, 22 and 24. Pakistan then play five T20Is against the West Indies in USA and the Caribbean. As for the Tests, Pakistan hosts South Africa for a two-match Test series in October. In the WTC fourth cycle (2025-2027) Pakistan will also host Sri Lanka and New Zealand while their away series are in Bangladesh, the West Indies and England.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Haris rises 210 spots in T20 ranks
Mohammad Haris was in action against Bangladesh in the recently concluded T20I series in Lahore. Photo: AFP England and Pakistan players made gains in the latest ICC Men's Player Rankings after series whitewashes against West Indies and Bangladesh, respectively. Pakistan made headlines with a 3-0 whitewash of Bangladesh at home. Leading the charge was Player of the Series Mohammad Haris, who soared a massive 210 places to No.30 in the ICC Men's T20I Batter Rankings after a blistering century in the final match. He smashed a fiery unbeaten 107 off just 46 balls in the third T20I, backing up his earlier knocks of 41 and 31 to finish as the series' top run-scorer with 167 runs at a strike rate of 201.12. Fellow middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz also impressed, finishing second on the charts with 121 runs at a strike rate of 198.36. He surged 57 places to a career-best equal 45th in the batting charts. Bangladesh's Tanzid Hasan (up 28 places to No.53) and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha (up 42 spots to equal 75th) were the other notable movers among batters after the series. In a high-scoring third T20I, Abbas Afridi returned with brilliant figures of 2/26, helping him jump 18 spots to a three-way-tied 19th spot in the ICC Men's T20I Bowlers Rankings with Anrich Nortje and Haris Rauf. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan's all-round contributions – 55 runs in two innings and four wickets across the series – helped him climb 10 places to No.14 in the ICC Men's T20I All-rounder Rankings. Pakistan teammates, ex-pros and coaches discuss the brilliance of Shadab Khan. England shine in ODIs Playing at home, England completed a 3-0 whitewash over West Indies to set the new Harry Brook era rolling. In the new era, it was the seasoned Joe Root who led the charge, earning Player of the Series honours with 267 runs, including a century and a fifty, taking the former captain up 14 spots to equal 24th place in the ICC Men's ODI Batters Rankings. The highlight was a career-best 166* off 139 balls in the second ODI, where Root rescued England from 133/5 in the 24th over while chasing 309, guiding them to a memorable win. Ben Duckett continued his strong run in ODIs, backing up his Champions Trophy 2025 form with two more half-centuries against West Indies, as a result jumping up three spots to 17th in the latest rankings update. New skipper Harry Brook also made valuable contributions in the 3-0 sweep, registering scores of 58, 47, and an unbeaten 26 at a strike rate of 111.96. He jumps 15 spots to No.48. Even in defeat, Keacy Carty continued to shine for West Indies, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer of the series with 154 runs in three games. Building on two centuries against Ireland earlier in the European tour, Carty struck his fourth ODI ton in the second match against England, further cementing his place in the side. The 28-year-old Carty climbs four places to No.12 in the Batting Rankings with a rating of 659, just one behind fellow West Indian Shai Hope (660) and 17 off Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran (676), who sits in 10th. In the ICC Men's ODI Bowling Rankings, Adil Rashid, the leading wicket-taker of the series with nine scalps, moves up four spots to No.19. Saqib Mahmood makes the biggest leap, surging 82 places to No.48 after finishing with eight wickets. West Indies pace spearhead Alzarri Joseph picked up seven wickets in the series to climb nine spots to 18th in the ICC Men's ODI Bowling Rankings. His handy 41-run knock in the final ODI also lifted him six places to joint-21st in the All-rounders Rankings.
