Life has never been the same for Kamran Akmal since the 2009-10 Australia series, specifically after dropping four catches in the second Test, a match that Pakistan lost.
Life has never been the same for Kamran Akmal since the 2009-10 Australia series, specifically after dropping four catches in the second Test, a match that Pakistan lost.
Since then, one controversy or the other has been haunting him, whether it is his wicket-keeping howlers or the spot-fixing scandal. It finally took a toll on him and a disastrous performance in the 2011 World Cup led to his ouster from the Pakistan squad.
Eyebrows were raised after his inclusion in the Pakistan squad for the T20 series against Australia and the World T20 but the wicketkeeper-bastman doesn’t want to dwell on such issues. Instead, he is focusing on regaining his place in the squad in all three formats.
“This will be a comeback tour of sorts for me. My performance was not good during the World Cup because of which I was axed. In international cricket it is not easy to maintain the same level of form throughout. I’m playing international cricket for last 10 years, there ought to be a dip in form. During my time away from Pakistan team, I’ve improved on my wicket-keeping,” said Kamran.
The 30-year-old, in his quest to iron out flaws due to lack of match practice, has turned to Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL) where he is representing Wayamba United, owned by India-based Wadhawan Holdings Pvt Ltd. “Every form of cricket as a profession is very important to me. SLPL is also very important for me to get back in shape,” said Akmal. With World T20 happening in Sri Lanka next month SLPL will be a good platform. “SLPL will give us a chance to get accustomed. This is followed by the Australia series in UAE which will prepare us mentally for tough matches during World T20,” said Kamran, who will fly off to UAE for the Australia series on Saturday.
Kamran is happy about revival of cricketing ties between the two neighbours. “The invitation to a Pakistani team to participate in CLT20 and Pakistan’s short series in December in India is a positive sign. There are some people who don’t want us to visit India but look at the reception we got during the World Cup semifinal against India. People from both nations want us to play regularly,” he said.
Next step, Kamran feels, should be India visiting Pakistan. “Pakistan people love to see Indians in action. Besides, we haven’t played for a long time at home. We are missing playing in front of huge crowd back home. I’ve played in front of our home crowd but some new kids in the side haven’t had that experience.”
){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}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}