Kamran Akmal beats THIS wicketkeeping record of MS Dhoni - Read it to believe it
Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal created history in the ongoing National T20 Cup in Pakistan as he became the first keeper in history to effect 100 stumpings in T20 cricket. Kamran Akmal achieved the feat during the game between Central Punjab and Southern Punjab on Tuesday and it has put him past greats like MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara.
Kamran Akmal of Pakistan is not considered high when it comes to wicketkeeping. His dropped catches and his missed stumpings are a stuff of legends and comic memes. Just ask New Zealand in the 2011 World Cup when he put down Ross Taylor four times. Ask the Australians, in particular Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle whom Kamran Akmal gave lives with four dropped catches in the Sydney Test of 2010 which Pakistan inexplicably lost after a lead of close to 200.
However, when he does get his keeping right, it is legendary. During the ongoing National T20 Cup tournament involving Central Punjab and Southern Punjab, Kamran Akmal created history when he became the first wicketkeeper in history to effect 100 stumpings in T20 cricket. The moment took place when Kamran Akmal stumped Southern Punjab captain Shan Masood off Zafar Gohar for 50.
Behind Akmal, MS Dhoni is second in the list with 84 stumpings followed by former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara with 60 stumpings. Dinesh Karthik (59) and Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad (52) are fourth and fifth respectively. In T20 internationals, Dhoni leads with 34 stumpings in 98 matches while Kamran Akmal is second with 32 stumpings in 58 games. Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh (29), Mohammad Shahzad (28) and Kumar Sangakkara (20) are behind MS Dhoni. Overall in international cricket, Dhoni is top with 123 stumpings combined across all formats of cricket. He is followed by Sangakkara (99), Romesh Kaluwitharana of Sri Lanka (75), Moin Khan (73) and Adam Gilchrist (55).
High scoring humdinger
Shan Masood and Hussain Talat smashed fifties while Khushdil Shah blasted 47 off 23 balls to help Southern Punjab reach 205/3 in 20 overs in the National T20 League match in Rawalpindi. In reply, Kamran Akmal began well with an aggressive 32 off 18 balls but Central Punjab suffered a big jolt when their skipper Babar Azam was dismissed first ball by Aamer Yamin.
Faheem Ashraf blasted five sixes and four boundaries in his knock of 54 but Mohammad Abbas took 3/41 to give Southern Punjab a three-run win.
Central Punjab and Southern Punjab are at the bottom of the table when it comes to the National T20 League and with this win, Southern Punjab have leapfrogged Central Punjab from the bottom.