Kamran Akmal made his international debut in 2002. Despite showing promise in the early stage of his career, he hasn’t been able to perform to his potential with the bat and on occasions, his show with the gloves has been horrendous. 2006 was the year when he showed some metamorphosis as a batsman. His famous hundred came against India in Karachi when chips were down. After Irfan Pathan wrecked havoc picking hattrick in first over, Akmal scored 113 coming in at 39/6.
Since then he has gone downhill from there. His batting along with his keeping has dipped. He has been in and out of Pakistan side, not being able to cement his place for long.
The 35-year-old is eyeing another comeback into the Pakistan team following his record-breaking 150 in a domestic T20 match. Playing for Lahore Whites against Islamabad, Kamran Akmal became the first Pakistani batsman to register a score of 150 in T20 cricket. He along with Salman Butt put on 209 for the first wicket which is an all-time highest opening T20 stand. Earlier this year, Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond had put on 207 for Kent.
Kamran Akmal is eyeing a national comeback after a string of decent domestic performances. His comebacks in recent years haven’t gone as good as he would’ve liked to. Kamran Akmal”s last three comebacks in T20Is read – The year 2012: Innings 12, Runs 145, Average 16.11: The year 2014: Innings 4, Runs 48, Average 12.00 The year 2017: Innings 4, Runs 90, Average 22.50
Speaking about comebacks, Kamran said, “I have been doing what a player needs to do — score runs — and that too in all formats of the game. I have been performing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and now am doing so in T20 cricket as well,” Kamran told The Express Tribune. “I am just concentrating on my game, which I’m supposed to do. The rest is up to the selectors and the board.”
However, he made it clear that it is still his dream to represent Pakistan even at 35. “Every player who performs in domestic competition hopes to make it into the national team,” he said. “My job is to stay fit and perform to the best of my ability. If I am making records and performing consistently then that is all I can do from my end. Hopefully, the selectors will take notice. They are watching a lot of players and I hope my hard work can pay a dividend.”
“For me, fitness is key to how a player performs. I was playing with an injured foot but still managed to score big,” he said. “If I am going out there as an opener and playing until the end of the innings then I must surely be fit.”
Pakistan tour New Zealand for a short limited-overs tours consisting of 5 ODIS and 3 T20Is in January 2018.
– by Atharva Apte
