I’m trying my best: Kamran

Wicket-keeper aims to silence critics, Akhtar and Rehman match-fit.


Fawad Hussain March 05, 2011

KANDY:


Under-fire Pakistan wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal responded to his critics and said that he was trying his best behind the stumps and with the bat. The 29-year-old’s performance was questioned once again after the wicket-keeper missed several chances in the match against Sri Lanka but has scored 110 runs in the three matches of the World Cup.


“I’m trying my best for the team,” Akmal told The Express Tribune. “Every player commits a few mistakes and faces difficulties during his career.

“I’m trying to get through this phase and improve my performance.”

This is not the first time the wicket-keeper’s abilities have come under the scanner. Akmal was highly criticised after Pakistan lost the second Test to Australia in Sydney and was also left out of the UAE series against South Africa last year.

However, a string of impressive performances in the domestic circuit won the experienced player a place back in the team coupled with his replacement Zulqarnain Haider’s desertion during the UAE series.

Akmal, who has scores of 55, 39 and 16 in the tournament, is also aiming for a big score in cricket’s showpiece event.

“I have a good chance of making big scores considering my batting position and I’m aiming for that.”

Akmal’s bumpy ride also included facing several corruption charges apart from being investigated by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Integrity Committee before being cleared for the World Cup. However, the veteran of 132 One-Day Internationals (ODI) said he was unperturbed with the past controversies.

“I have left all those issues behind me and my only focus is to help my team winning the World Cup.

“I’m trying to silence the critics and hopefully I will lift my performance in the rest of the tournament.”

‘Akhtar completely fit’

Meanwhile, Pakistan team manager dismissed injury concerns surrounding fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar and said the 35-year-old was completely fit.

Alam played down reports that the Rawalpindi Express was suffering from a groin injury that kept him away from the match against Canada. The manager stressed that the fast-bowler would be fit for the match against New Zealand on March 8.

“He is fully fit and was just rested against Canada,” Alam said at the Isghariya Stadium where the team held its first training session.

Rehman recovers

Pakistan also received welcome news as left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman has recovered from the leg injury he suffered during the team’s match against hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo.

He took part in the training session but was only seen doing light exercises and did not bowl.

Team reluctant to change combination

Alam hinted Pakistan will play the same combination they used in their first two matches against Kenya and Sri Lanka.

“We had to make some changes against Canada due to Rehman’s injury. But we might play the same team after his comeback.”

Batting failure discussed extensively

He added the team management discussed the team’s batting failure against Canada in which Pakistan were bundled out for their lowest total of the tournament.

“We have discussed our performance in detail and tried to figure out reasons for the failure,” added Alam.

Pakistan face New Zealand at the newly-built Pallekele Stadium on Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2011.

COMMENTS (17)

Sadaqat | 13 years ago | Reply He was the real man of the match. Taylor should have stepped down, giving him a chance to receive man of the match trophy. Sharam tum to magar nahi aati.......
A Great Liar | 13 years ago | Reply Well, its certainly not working, for reasons all too obvious. With due respect to your prowess behind the stumps, my grandma would have taken those catches, ... even after she was dead!
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