'Should I go to the Prime Minister?' - Pakistan's Kamran Akmal frustrated over not getting a national call

Senior Pakistani wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has expressed his dissatisfaction over the selection procedure of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He has also taken a dig at the national selectors for ignoring him despite his good shows in the domestic tournaments. Out of frustration, the 38-year-old has also asked whether he needs to knock the door of the country’s prime minister to get selected.

Akmal, who was critical of the Pakistan team after it lost to India in the ICC World Cup last year, slammed former head coach Mickey Arthur saying he gave too much importance to fitness but didn’t care to give young talents their dues during his stint.

In a talk show on television last Sunday, the veteran wicket-keeper-batsman also blasted the Pakistan squad picked for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore starting January 24. Speaking in a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in the same city, Akmal said: “I don’t lose heart but there is a limit. It’s been five years, you have brought a new system which will have the best quality, best talent and whoever performs will automatically be considered. Should I go and perform in India or Australia to be considered?”

‘There is a limit’: Kamran Akmal

“I am Pakistan’s player, I have been performing for five years, how much should I tolerate it? Should I go to Prime Minister and say this is my performance for 5 years? If there’s someone who is playing ahead of me with fantastic performances, that’s fine. I said play me as a wicket-keeper if needed,” said Akmal as quoted by Hindustan Times. He is currently playing for Central Punjab in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Akmal has played in 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is to score over 6,000 runs with 11 tons. He, however, last played for his country in April 2017 — in an ODI against the West Indies.

“There are many players like me who are deserving, like Fawad Alam, look at his performances. Am I talking without performances? There’s a World Cup coming up, I have performed in PSL, and in domestic in all formats and I am a top performer. Misbah should look at these things,” Akmal added.

He added that cricketers like Abid Ali have done well for Pakistan in the ODIs and Tests in recent times but still was sidelined because of fitness issues. Akmal urged the team management to focus more on the players’ skills than fitness.

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