Kamran Akmal will be playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel. The wicket keeper-batsman is eyeing a comeback to the Pakistan team with some good performances in the upcoming CPL. Nishad Pai Vaidya spoke to Akmal about the CPL and a lot more.
Kamran Akmal will be playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel. The wicket keeper-batsman is eyeing a comeback to the Pakistan team with some good performances in the upcoming CPL. Nishad Pai Vaidya spoke to Akmal about the CPL and a lot more.
CricLife (CL): You have played T20 leagues in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. What are your thoughts as you head to the Caribbean in a new setting?
Kamran Akmal (KA): Playing a league is a good experience, especially sharing the dressing room with players such as Jacques Kallis, or Johan Botha. I have played in leagues in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India and I have performed well; I now have the chance to do well in the CPL. That’s my focus. A turning point could be that I return to international cricket with good performances.
CL: You have done well in domestic cricket last season. Someone like Shoaib Malik did well in the CPL and other tournaments to make a comeback to the Pakistan team. How crucial would you say is this tournament for you in that regard?
KA: Performance in domestic cricket has been good. I want to produce that form for my team in the CPL. If you go back to 2008, no one knew about Shaun Marsh before the IPL and Shane Watson made his comeback after the tournament. Ahmed Shehzad also returned after doing well in the CPL. If you perform in these leagues or in domestic cricket, you can return. Also, these tournaments are televised and the whole world is watching you.
CL: You just spoke about the Indian Premier League (IPL). You were a part of the Rajasthan Royals team that won the tournament in the first year. Can you tell us about that unexpected triumph?
KA: The credit goes to the whole Rajasthan Royals team. It was a well-set team and everyone was backing each other. Shane Warne led the team from the front on the field. He would support players and that is what one wants from a captain and the management. Likewise, the CPL franchise have welcomed me and given me confidence as well. I now want to perform for the team. I am excited for it as it starts on June 20. I am going to travel to the Caribbean now.
CL: Your wicketkeeping has been inconsistent, though during the World T20 last year there was a marked improvement. What caused the improvement?
KA: During the last three-four years, I have been working hard and have learnt about the basics from my seniors such as Rashid Latif. I learnt from Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy. Here, in Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy (NCA), I worked with Rashid Latif. Cricket has been going on continuously and I have been ‘keeping. I have to keep working hard. Speaking to them has benefited me a lot.
CL: In the last few years, you have been in and out of the Pakistan team. How difficult is it for you to keep your morale up and eye that return that you have been waiting for?
KA: Making a comeback is difficult, but the one who is fit and performing can make a comeback anytime. My job is to do well and remain fit. Being in and out keeps happening. There are a few who play continuously like [MS] Dhoni, [Kumar] Sangakkara and Gilchrist. I was dropped on form. I have done well in domestic cricket and when the selectors pick me; my aim is to play well and remain fit.
CL: People in India remember you for your combative batting that rescued Pakistan many times. There have been some good knocks in Mohali, Lahore and Kolkata. Which one if your personal favourite against India?
KA: There is the Mohali ton, but there is also the one in Karachi, where Irfan Pathan had taken a hat-trick. An India-Pakistan game is a pressure match. The whole world watches, especially India’s and Pakistanis. That is the time you should rise to the occasion. Back then, India had Rahul [Dravid], [VVS] Laxman, Dhoni, Sachin [Tendulkar], and Yuvraj [Singh]. To play against such a team, after Irfan had taken a hat-trick, felt good. You also get to learn a lot. I would give the credit to Inzi bhai [Inzamam ul-Haq] who gave me the confidence.
CL: You have batted from No. 1 to No. 8 in limited-overs cricket. Which number is your personal preference?
KA: If you go back to the World T20 Pakistan won, I had opened the batting. I have done well as an opener. So, if the team decides to make me open the batting or play me at No. 3, I have to deliver. Irrespective of that, my job is to do well.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Mumbai-based cricket journalist and one of the youngest to cover the three major cricketing events — ICC World Cup, World T20 and under-19 World Cup. He tweets as @nishad_45)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kamran-Akmal")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}