Umar Akmal Opens Up About Past Differences with Zulqarnain Haider
Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has recently spoken about his past efforts to support former teammate Zulqarnain Haider, expressing disappointment over renewed misunderstandings between the two.
In a recent interview, Akmal shared that despite past tensions, he chose to extend goodwill toward Haider during a challenging period in the wicketkeeper’s life. He revealed that he refrained from taking legal steps against Haider out of consideration for his financial circumstances.
“I have no resentment towards anyone. If I wanted, I could have sent him a legal notice, but I did not as I was aware of his financial situation,” Akmal said.
Akmal also reflected on his visit to Haider during a serious illness in 2022, mentioning that he provided financial assistance, an act of kindness encouraged by his wife. “My wife was the first among those people who motivated me to take that initiative,” he noted.
However, Akmal expressed surprise over Haider’s recent behavior, stating that old issues appeared to have resurfaced. “Recently, when he recovered, he once again has started doing the same things. I think that shows how people are, but I will still take it positively,” he added.
Their earlier reconciliation in 2022 had seemed like a step forward, especially after a long period of public disagreement. Haider had previously made claims that impacted their professional relationship, but both players appeared to have moved past it—until now.
Zulqarnain Haider, once seen as a rising star for Pakistan, made headlines in 2010 during an international tour, after which his career took a different turn. Although he later returned to domestic cricket, he did not make a comeback at the international level.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Zulqarnain Haider or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in response to Umar Akmal’s comments.
