Home Lightbox Umar Akmal Released on Bail

Umar Akmal Released on Bail

by AFP
Lakruwan Wanniarachchi—AFP

Lakruwan Wanniarachchi—AFP

Cricketer accused of assaulting police official claims the police are victimizing him.

Cricket star Umar Akmal was released on bail Sunday, a day after he was arrested for violating traffic rules and scuffling with a policeman.

The 23-year-old was charged with interfering with government work and “scuffling” with a policeman after he failed to stop at a traffic signal and refused to show documents on Saturday. Traffic policeman Mohammad Zeeshan accused Akmal of tearing his uniform and assaulting him, charges the batsman denied.

Akmal’s lawyer said the court set bail at Rs. 100,000. “Akmal’s bail has been confirmed,” lawyer Wasim Mumtaz told reporters outside the court. “We will register our protest as Akmal was kept under unlawful detention.”

A visibly upset Akmal later told reporters he had tried his best to comply with the law. “It was a case of police showing their strength and I tried my level best to resolve the matter,” said Akmal, who regularly plays limited-overs cricket for Pakistan.

Akmal’s father criticized the arrest. “When our own people insult our national heroes then the rest of the world will also do this,” said Mohammad Akmal. “It’s insulting and unacceptable.”

Akmal has played 16 Tests, 89 one-day internationals and 52 Twenty20s for Pakistan in a career that began in 2009.

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