Kamran Akmal eyeing another comeback to the national side

KARACHI: With remarkable performance in on-going Quaid e Azam trophy, Pakistan’s much-criticized wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal has, once again, set his eyes on making a comeback to the national Cricket team, but purely as a batsman.

Akmal, 34, has already scored 790 runs with an average of around 87.7 in 10 innings of the Quaid e Azam Trophy, representing WAPDA’s team and he’s looking to take his score tally to more than a thousand runs in the season.

“Not only this season, but my batting was very good in previous seasons as well,” Kamran said while talking to Geo.tv after the second day’s play of WAPDA vs SNGPL match in Quaid e Azam Trophy at the national Stadium Karachi.

“I am not saying that I should be replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed, not at all. Sarfaraz has been doing great behind the wickets since the last couple of years and no wicket-keeper should replace him at the moment,” he added.

“I am offering my stats as a batsman and it is up to the selection committee to judge my ability,” said Kamran.

Kamran, who was dropped from the team after poor show after World T20 in 2014, said that other teams have two/three wicket-keeper batsmen with them as well.

“There are a lot of examples, where teams have played two wicket-keepers in the squad, one as wicket keeper and the other purely as a batsman, and if I am scoring runs and in-form then why can’t Pakistan try this as well,” he said.

“Dropping catches is not something unusual, even the best of wicket-keepers have a history of dropped catches,” said Akmal.

He added that he would have been saying the same thing even if there was any other wicket-keeper batsman who is scoring runs at domestic level.

“It is not just about me, I think players who are performing at domestic tournament should get a chance to prove their mettle at the international cricket,” he said.

Kamran added that he’s ready to join the team if called as a batsman for the Australia tour.

“I am not from people who would make excuse, I am waiting for a call and will be readily joining the team as soon I get my chance. Test matches, ODIs, or T20Is. I have already made my mind that I have to play as a batsman, so I am ready and it is up to selectors and team management,” said Akmal.