PSL 2018: Waqar Younis dismisses chances of Kamran Akmals return

Kamran Akmal’s erratic performances, both with the willow and behind the stumps have been a thorn in the flesh in his topsy-turvy international career. The cricketer is currently in his late 30s and has limited amount cricket left in him. However, he hasn’t run out of steam just yet and has been in stupendous touch in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The swashbuckling batsman is playing for the Peshawar Zalmi and is presently the highest run scorer in the series. He scored a brilliant ton against the Lahore Qalandars which confirmed the Zalmi’s qualification in the playoffs. In the Zalmi’s erstwhile game against the Karachi Kings, he raced away to the fastest half-century ever since the inception of the tournament.

No Kamran Akmal for Pakistan

However, despite the run churning spree by the Lahore-born cricketer, his chances of making a comeback in the Pakistan team look, to say the least. Previously Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s head coach, ruled out his chances of a national comeback. Meanwhile, Waqar Younis, the coach of the Islamabad United has also dismissed Kamran’s return.

The former Pakistan bowler highlighted Kamran’s wicket-keeping skills as a primary reason of his non-inclusion. However, he also mentioned that the wicket-keeper batsman can be included as a backup of Sarfraz Ahmed. The Pakistan player played his final game for the team during their tour of the West Indies back in April 2017.

Meanwhile, the focus shifts to the final between the Islamabad United and the Peshawar Zalmi, which will be staged at the Karachi National Stadium. Quite expectantly, the team would be banking on Kamran to give them a swashbuckling start. This will also be the first final to be played in Karachi. The final of the opening season was played in Dubai while the last season’s final was staged in Lahore.

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