Umar Akmal last played a Test for Pakistan in 2011 – but the batsman tells Saj Sadiq of Pak.Passion.net that he has not given up on a recall... PakPassion.net : You are back at Leicestershire after a short but successful stint last season. What are your aims for this season? Umar Akmal : Firstly a big thank you to Leicestershire for giving me the opportunity to return and play for them again. I had a great time last season playing for Leicestershire and my aims this season are to play well and score plenty of runs in each match for Leicestershire and to help them have a successful season in the NatWest T20 Blast tournament.PakPassion.net : You are now 26 years old. Time to show some maturity on and off the field, isnt it?Umar Akmal : I think I have improved a lot when it comes to maturity both on the cricket field and off it. I feel that in the coming months and years everyone will see a more mature Umar Akmal. I particularly need to bat according to the situation more than I have in the past and that is definitely something I am focusing on. Akmal is currently playing for Leicestershire in the NatWest T20 Blast PakPassion.net : The Chief Selector wants to see plenty of runs from you in domestic cricket. Are you up for that challenge and to prove your doubters wrong?Umar Akmal : Absolutely. My aim is to make lots of runs for Leicestershire, then in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and then back home in Pakistan I need to make sure I get off to a flying start in domestic cricket for Sui Gas. I am aware that I need a strong domestic season behind me to impress the selectors and I am fully aware that I need to perform in domestic cricket to hopefully catch the eye.PakPassion.net : According to the recent fitness tests at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), your levels of fitness have declined. Why is that and is that a concern for you?Umar Akmal : As professional athletes, we are always working hard on our fitness. Unfortunately, some quarters have insinuated that I am extremely unfit and not ready to play. This is obviously untrue. However, as a professional athlete, I will continue to work hard on my fitness.PakPassion.net : Do you think you get a rough deal from the media who see you as an easy target?Umar Akmal : I would urge the Pakistani media to support Pakistani cricketers and help us in taking Pakistan cricket forward. The media needs to stop highlighting every little situation and making a big deal out of it. We cricketers have families too and its not nice for them to see negative stories being brought up and highlighted in the media. Our families struggle to cope with such controversies which our media seem to thrive on. It not only hurts our families but these stories hurt us cricketers and ultimately Pakistan cricket. I need support from the media and if I get that then you will definitely see positive results. I always pray that the Pakistan cricket team is successful whether I am in the team or not and that will never change. Lets see what happens in the coming weeks and months as that will give me a clearer picture regarding my future. Umar Akmal PakPassion.net : You find yourself now completely sidelined from international cricket. Whats going through your mind nowadays?Umar Akmal : The squads have not been announced as yet for the limited-overs leg of the tour of England. Only the squad has been announced ahead of the Test series, so you never know. I live in hope, I always do. Ive only wanted what is best for the Pakistan team and Pakistan cricket and I have always tried my best in whatever format I have been selected. I always pray that the Pakistan cricket team is successful whether I am in the team or not and that will never change. Lets see what happens in the coming weeks and months as that will give me a clearer picture regarding my future.PakPassion.net : You made a sparkling 129 on Test debut but your critics say that as a batsman you have regressed. Whats gone wrong?Umar Akmal : My Test debut was a special moment for me. My brother Kamran was with me at the crease when I reached three figures and senior players like Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik were around me and they offered me so much support and guidance. I cannot express in words just how much confidence those senior players gave me. I was full of confidence back then and perhaps that is what has been lacking and why Ive not been able to kick on as much as I would have liked regarding my performances for Pakistan. A lot of people had high hopes for me and I dont want to let those people down in the future. Akmal would like to emulate his countryman Younis Khan PakPassion.net : Why is your confidence lacking despite so many opportunities for Pakistan?Umar Akmal : Confidence for a player comes from your captain, the management, the coaching staff, your cricket board and the media. We players just need confidence, thats all. Ive played all over the world and have always tried to project my countrys name in a positive light. My country always comes first for me but sometimes I feel that I dont get the backing and support and that affects my confidence. Sometimes playing in leagues around the world I am given more backing and therefore that boosts my confidence.PakPassion.net : Do you now see yourself as a Twenty20 specialist batsman?Umar Akmal : Absolutely not. My aim has always been and always will be to play Test cricket for Pakistan. Ive always said that Test cricket is the number one format for me and I still maintain that. I always wanted to emulate the achievements of Younus Khan in Test cricket and still do. Hes a great example to me as a cricketer and as a human being. I also follow AB de Villiers a lot and hes another great example to me. These are two individuals whose achievements I want to emulate and time is still on my side. Umar is a big admirer of South Africas AB de Villiers PakPassion.net : When do you think we will see you back in Pakistan colours?Umar Akmal : Id love to be in Pakistans whites and be playing Test cricket as thats the format that I really want to play for Pakistan again. Im desperate to play Test cricket again for Pakistan, but if I dont get the opportunity to play Test cricket then limited overs cricket for my country would be fine. I just want another chance to perform and to show people that I am still capable of performing in international cricket. I used to play all three formats for Pakistan and Im sure everyone will see me playing in all three formats for Pakistan again soon.PakPassion.net : Do you feel that the introduction of Mickey Arthur gives you a fresh opportunity to impress the head coach?Umar Akmal : I wish Mickey all the best in his new role and I hope his stint as head coach is a very successful one. Whoever the selectors and head coach pick to play for Pakistan, there will be no hard feelings from me and I wish all of them the very best. Mickey Arthur has succeeded Waqar Younis as Pakistan coach PakPassion.net : At this moment in time, based on what Inzamam-ul-Haq has said, do you agree your international future looks bleak?Umar Akmal : I just need to perform, get my head down and score lots of runs in whichever league I am playing in. At the moment my focus is on doing well for Leicestershire and then I will be playing in the Caribbean Premier League. After that I will play some club cricket in Pakistan and then the domestic season in Pakistan starts. I need to perform and catch the eye of the selectors; thats all I can do and the rest is out of my hands.PakPassion.net : Youve been labelled talented, reckless and irresponsible? Are those fair ways to describe your batting credentials?Umar Akmal : I will ask my critics to look at me and what I have achieved compared to others. They will get the answer by just looking at my statistics and looking at the numbers of others; my statistics are much better. As for my fans I will say that you have always supported me through thick and thin and I need your support now more than ever. I always get a lot of confidence from my fans comments and appreciation.Watch Pakistans tour of England live on Sky Sports, starting with the first Test, at Lords, from Thursday, July 14. 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Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, played for the Cardinals from 2001-11, then left to sign a $240 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. "My lawyers have told me that the upcoming legal fight will not be an easy one, and that in cases like this even a liar can sometimes be protected under the law," Pujols said in a statement. "I have never shied away from standing up for the truth, and I believe that the principles at stake are too important to sit back and do nothing." "I believe we are all accountable for the things we do and say, and it was important for me to stand up for what was right against those who would seek to drag me down to try and build themselves up," he said. The lawsuit came one day after three-time AL MVP Alex Rodriguez sued Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig in New York for alleged interference with his current and prospective business deals. Rodriguez has a $275 million, 10-year contract with the New York Yankees, the only baseball deal larger than Pujols agreement. Clark played for the Cardinals from 1985-87 and was a four-time All-Star. He made the comments on Aug. 2 on WGNU-AM radios "The King and the Ripper Show," saying he knew "for a fact" that Pujols used steroids and performance enhancing drugs. He called Pujols "a juicer" and made similar on-air comments three days later. Clark and his co-host on the program, Kevin Slaten, were fired a week into their tenure, and the stations owner broadcast a lengthy apology and posted similarly contrite statements on its websitee.dddddddddddd The lawsuit does not name the radio station or Slaten as defendants. Clark, who played 18 seasons for five teams, was the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach from 2001-03. He said on the air that Pujols personal trainer, Chris Mihlfeld, disclosed that he "shot up" the young player and also offered Clark steroids. Mihlfeld, who also worked for the Dodgers at the time and first met Pujols as his junior college coach, has publicly denied those accusations. The suit references a Mihlfeld statement that Clarks allegations are "simply not true." The lawsuit says Clarks comments are lies that have damaged Pujols reputation, causing him humiliation, mental anguish and anxiety. It calls the statements "malicious, reckless and outrageous falsehoods" and said Clarks firing and the shows cancellation dont go far enough. "Cutting Clark off at the microphone will not undo the harm to Pujols reputation caused by Clark," the suit says. On Aug. 10, Clark tweeted: "I completely stand by the story I told 8 days ago about conversations 13 years ago w/ Mihlfeld. He will never admit it." Clarks attorney, Chet Pleban, said he had not yet seen the lawsuit but Clark "looks forward to having his day in court and having 12 unbiased, impartial people decide the issues." "And well certainly look forward to the discovery process, that will include depositions and the like," he said. Pleban said Pujols has a "multiplicity of legal hurdles to overcome" to meet the actual malice standard in libel cases brought by public officials -- specifically showing that Clark made a knowingly false statement or with reckless disregard for the truth. Soon after Clarks comments, Pujols adamantly denied using performance-enhancing drugs, citing his desire to be a role model for his five children and the necessity of being "the athlete to carry the torch and pave the way for other innocent players" by challenging Clark in court. On Friday, one of the five lawyers he has hired to fight Clark said in a written statement that should Pujols prevail in court, he would donate any monetary damages to charity. Los Angeles attorney Lynda Goldman said Pujols also expects an apology from Clark. 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