Lahore, Jan. 13 : Pakistan’s dropped wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has come under fire for stating that he would play the final Test against Australia in Hobart even when the PCB selectors had rushed in young Sarfraz Ahmed to Australia as his replacement.
Akmal’s statement just shows what is going on in the Pakistan team right now. The whole nation does not want him to play after his poor performance in the Sydney Test and yet he is insisting he will play, saying the management and players also supporting him, the Daily Times quoted ex Pakistani captain Rashid Latif, as saying.
I don’t understand what is happening in Pakistan cricket. The board and selectors have sent another keeper to Australia to apparently play him in the third Test and the team management is still insisting Akmal will play, Latif added.
It is being said that Akmal’s younger brother Umar has feigned injury in order to be excluded from the team in solidarity with his sibling.
Akmal dropped four important catches and missed a run out in the Sydney Test which Pakistan having dominated for three days but still lost by 36 runs to hand Australia the three-match series 0-2.
Former captain Aamir Sohail insisted that Akmal needs rest from international cricket, and must understand that he would only damage his career by giving away such statements.
“It is not about one player or the team. Here the issue is about Pakistan and no player should be bigger than the country or team. If Akmal is not in form he must side out and give Sarfraz a chance,” Sohail said.
This is a clear example of players power trying to override the board decisions, he added.
© ANI
