Are Umar Akmal's gym videos a low-key appeal to the PCB?

Umar Akmal's not one to accept defeat.

Earlier this year, the batsman was declared "unfit" by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan for failing two fitness tests and was subsequently removed from the ICC Champions Trophy.

Days after the PCB's decision, Umar said in an interview that he's "ready to commit to cricket. I still have a lot of cricket left in me and I aim to make another international comeback. I am even more focused on cricket now. Cricket is my bread and butter, and therefore I will try and fulfil whatever requirements the PCB has to allow me to return."

In what seems to be an appeal to the PCB, Akmal is going hard at the gym, and he's pumping some serious iron.

First, his gym posts increased in regularity on our Instagram feed.

A little over a month later, he was spotted at it again, throwing some mean punches.

Unfit? Get a dose of this, PCB! #FellasWhoLunge

Okay, maybe now it's starting to make sense why he didn't clear that fitness test...

Never mind, false alarm. Treating that stairmaster like a stairway back to mainstream cricket!

Pictured in his natural habitat, surrounded by his newfound workout buddies

Drop it like it's hot? More like drop it like it's squat!

One thing's for sure, he got that dedication hashtag right!