With a failed comeback, Umar Akmal bags an unwanted record

• Umar Akmal overtook Shahid Afridi's record of most dismissals on ducks for Pakistan in T20I.
• Despite poor performance, Sarfaraz and Misbah show their support to the returning players.

Pakistan middle order batsman Umar Akmal didn’t have the best of comebacks after he was dismissed first ball against Sri Lanka in the first T20I at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Saturday.

Akmal's much anticipated return ended pretty quickly after he got out on a golden duck at the hands of Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, who got him leg before on the very first delivery. Akmal went on to bag an unwanted record for himself after he overtook Shahid Afridi's record of most ducks in T20Is for Pakistan.

Akmal’s golden duck in the first T20I was the ninth in his career as compared to Afridi’s eight.

However, despite poor showing in the first match, skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed came out in support of the comeback duo - Ahmed Shehzad and Akmal. “Both are experienced players and once they settle in, they will perform. So I give my full backing for them,” Sarfaraz said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by head coach-cum chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq, who was optimistic that the returning players would prove themselves in the coming matches.

“We are focusing on making the best team combination for the upcoming T20 World Cup, and for this, we have to provide fair chances to each and every performing cricketers. Hopefully the recalled players will try to give out their best in the next matches and make the decision of their selection right,” said Misbah.

It is pertinent to inform that former Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan sits at top with the most ducks in T20Is with 10.

With the three match T20I series 1-0 in favor of Sri Lanka, the Men in Green would need to get their act straight in the second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.