Imran, Miandad slam Akmal for dropping catches during WC opener against India

Former Pakistan legends Imran Khan and Javed Miandad have slammed part-time wicketkeeper batsman Umar Akmal for dropping crucial catches during high-voltage World Cup game against arch-rivals India in Adelaide on Sunday.

Reflecting on Umar's performance as a keeper, Imran said that he always believed in having specialist players and playing Umar as a keeper was a mistake and it cost them, the Dawn reported.

Umar dropped the catch of Indian star batsman Virat Kohli on 76, which enabled the swashbuckling batsman to anchor his side to set up an imposing total of 300 while scoring his 22nd ODI hundred.

Umar Akmal was chosen ahead of specialist wicketkeeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed during the much-anticipated tie.

Expressing similar views in a column for the ICC, Miandad said that it was a mindboggling team selection that shocked millions of Pakistan cricket fans around the world, adding that Umar didn't surprise him when he dropped Kohli behind the stumps as they had seen him drop crucial catches in crunch matches at vital points a dozen of times.