Umar Akmal breaks Afridi’s T20I record for most ducks by any Pakistani

LAHORE: After an absence of over three years, Umar Akmal has made a comeback in Twenty20 international cricket…with a golden duck!

Playing against Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Saturday, Akmal left his fans disappointed once again and they witnessed him being dismissed off the very first ball coming to the crease one wicket down.

Akmal was trapped leg before the wicket off right-arm medium pacer Nuwan Pradeep’s first delivery.

This was the ninth time that Akmal was dismissed for naught in Twenty20 internationals—the most ducks by any Pakistani in the format. Akmal beat former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi’s previous record of eight ducks in T20is.
Umar Akmal, who has an experience of playing 83 T20I matches, played his last T20I game against West Indies at Abu Dhabi on September 27, 2016.

The ‘bad boy’ of Pakistan cricket, who was delighted to be included in the national team for today’s T20I, had said three days ago that he would perform well in the match.

But Akmal wasn’t the only Pakistani to disappoint tonight.

Ahmed Shahzad, who also returned to the national team tonight following an absence of over a year, was dismissed for a paltry 4 runs after facing just 9 deliveries at the crease.

Shehzad was bowled out on an inside edge facing Sri Lanka’s Isuru Udana.

Twitter users started trolling both the batsmen for their dismal performances, with Akmal becoming one of the top trends.