Coach Mickey Arthur abused him, claims Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal

Karachi : Pakistan’s Test batsman Umar Akmal has claimed that chief coach Mickey Arthur abused him during an argument at the national cricket academy in Lahore. “I stand by what I told the media earlier today. Mickey Arthur first used poor language and then abused me. Inzamam bhai and Mushtaq bhai (Ahmed) are both witness to this incident at the NCA,” Umar told PTI on Wednesday. The altercation took place between Umar and Arthur after the former returned from England following a rehabilitation programme for a knee problem and went to the academy for training. Umar said he went there after informing batting coach Grant Flower about his need to practise. “When I reached there, first Grant and than our physio Grant Luden refused to accommodate me saying they were only working with the centrally contracted players. I then went to Mickey and he told he was instructed to work only with the contracted players,” Umar said.