Stats: Most hundreds by a wicketkeeper-batsman in first-class cricket

Tell me honestly, what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you see or hear the name, Kamran Akmal? His repeated blunders while wicketkeeping, right? Or the twin catches he dropped of Ross Taylor off Shoaib Akhtar‘s bowling during the 2011 World Cup? Or the run-out of Michael Hussey that he missed; one that eventually cost Pakistan the Sydney Test match of 2010? Pretty much all of it. Right?

You wouldn’t remember his batting much though! Nor you would remember what in my opinion is one of the greatest Test innings played under adversity. For, it got overshadowed by Irfan Pathan’s hattrick. But despite that hattrick, India went on to lose the game. Why? Because of Akmal’s counter-attacking 148-ball-113 that took Pakistan out from a dire situation of 6/39.

Imperious Akmal gets another feather in his cap

Such has been his struggles behind the wicket that his performance in front of it always got overshadowed. Adding another testimony to his precocious batting talent, Kamran Akmal has slammed his 31st FC hundred against Northern Punjab.

The former Pakistani wicketkeeper is second in the list for most hundreds scored by a wicketkeeper-batsman in FC cricket. The list is spearheaded by Kent’s Les Ames who racked up an unprecedented 56 FC tons. Adam Gilchrist is third on the list with 29 hundreds.

Most 100s as a WK Batsman in FC Cricket

56 Les Ames
31 KAMRAN AKMAL*
29 Adam Gilchrist
27 Jim Parks
26 Kaushal Silva & Chris Read@KamiAkmal23 @TheRealPCB #QeA19 #CPvNOR

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) September 21, 2019

Akmal, who last featured for his side in national colors in an ODI against the West Indies in 2017, though played his last Test match way back in 2010. Though he has been a prolific run-scorer in Domestic Cricket, Akmal continues to be on the sidelines and has been quite vocal about the selection and team-management policies of the PCB when the Men in Green crashed out of the World Cup.

“Pakistan cricket team went beyond expectations in the world cup as they had beaten the heavyweights of world cricket. If we look at the last five years of Pakistan cricket team’s performances, one can easily claim that this world cup was by far the best as far as they finished fifth. But for me and others, who had some knowledge of cricket, it could be the best one, had the team management paid heed towards the day-to-day changing situation and maintained the team’s run-rate, which was rock-bottom after the worst ever defeat against the West Indies.”