Pakistan’s young batting star Umar Akmal was booked and detained by the police on Saturday after a scuffle with a traffic warden in the city of Lahore.
The case has been registered at the Gulberg police station in whose jurisdiction the alleged incident happened.
Umar, who is often criticised by cricket experts as being too brash on the field, was reportedly driving to a friends wedding when he, according to the warden, broke three traffic lights between Cavalry Ground and Firdous Market and was “also over-speeding.” When the the 23-year-old was eventually pulled over and handed a ticket (challan) for his violations, a scuffle broke out.
“He violated a traffic signal and when he was stopped by the traffic warden he misbehaved with him, got abusive and also tore his shirt,” senior police official Tariq Aziz told reporters on Saturday.
Aziz said physically assaulting and tearing the shirt of a police officer was a serious violation.
“He is presently detained at the police station for questioning,” he added. However, Umar, 23, denied the charges and told reporters that the traffic warden had slapped him and abused him over a minor issue.
“His behaviour was inappropriate to say the least. I came to the police station to register a complaint and instead they have detained me,” he added.
Earlier, Inquiry officer Zahid Nawaz said Umar tore the uniform of one of the traffic wardens on duty and slapped him as three police officials tried to stop the player’s Mercedes.
Nawaz also said Umar claimed the warden first grabbed his shirt, “but I have done the inquiry and no such thing happened.”
Umar was charged with “violating traffic rules, interfering in government work and “scuffling” with a traffic official.