'We respect his feelings’- Peshawar Zalmi and Kamran Akmal back on healthy terms after latter’s relegation for PSL 2022

Peshawar Zalmi head coach, Mohammad Akram, has said that Kamran Akmal remains an integral part of their setup in the Pakistan Super League despite the controversy surrounding the veteran of late. On the players’ draft day, Akmal was relegated from the Diamond to the Gold category. Thereafter, Zalmi made him their last pick from the Silver category.

Subsequently, Akmal said that after playing in the PSL for a long time, he felt humiliated on being picked from the lowest category. Akmal, also the most-capped player in the history of the PSL, wasn’t happy with the franchise by any means. However, the wicketkeeper-batter has mentioned that he has cleared the misunderstandings with the Zalmi.

He is a very senior cricketer, says Zalmi coach on Kamran Akmal

Akram said that he and the Zalmi have high regards for the veteran cricketer, who has also played 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is for Pakistan from 2002 to 2017. Moreover, the Zalmi coach also put forth the rationale behind Akmal’s demotion.

“We have a great respect for Kamran. Picking him in the Silver category was a part of our strategy as draft dictates who you pick at what stage. We had the right-to-match card with us and we saved it for him in case any team could have tried to pick him. So, when you have a tool to protect your player you make sure that he isn’t hurt money wise,” Akram was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

“We respect his feelings but once I explained to him, he understood. We lifted him in the silver category but at the same time we named him as mentor as well. He is a very senior cricketer and as a coach I get motivation from his passion and hunger and hard work that he still puts in like an Under-19 boy. So, it’s all sorted and he is very much part of our side,” he added.

Akmal has played six seasons for the Zalmi since the inception of the PSL back in 2016. In 58 matches, he has scored 2070 runs at an average of 43.12 and a strike rate of 121.55 with 21 half-centuries to show for his efforts. He is also the leading run-scorer in the history of the PSL.