Kamran Akmal ready to give up first (g)love

34-year-old eyes return as specialist batsman

KARACHI: Sidelined from the international scene, Kamran Akmal recently became the most successful wicketkeeper in the country’s first-class history but he is ready to give up on his first love as a glovesman to make his international return as a specialist batsman.

The 35-year old took seven catches in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QAT) for WAPDA against UBL last week to complete 829 dismissals behind the wickets, one more than the legendary Wasim Bari. “It’s an honour to go ahead of such a big name in the record books,” said Kamran.

The eldest Akmal brother hasn’t donned the green of Pakistan since the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh and he is focusing on his batting as he feels that can help him return to the international fold. His strategy is paying dividends as he is currently the top scorer in the ongoing QAT.

In his eight innings, Kamran has scored 588 runs at an average of 84 and has registered three centuries and as many half-centuries. The veteran of 53 Tests, 154 ODIs and 54 T20Is was also successful at the recently concluded National T20 Cup; finishing among the top scorers with 260 runs in eight matches.

“I think I have learned the art of batting in the last couple of years only. I am a complete batsman now,” Kamran, who made his international debut in 2002, told The Express Tribune in an interview. “I’ve been focusing on my batting for the last three years and in those years I have mastered it like never before. Previously, I never took my batting that seriously.”

Kamran became something of a running joke in the cricketing world as his wicketkeeping fell well below the standards expected of an international glovesman, but he now wants to return as a specialist batsman.

“I am not eyeing a place as a wicketkeeper in the Pakistan team. But I do think I have a lot to offer as a batsman. It’s not just this domestic season, I’ve been performing well with the bat for three years now,” he said.

Kamran feels Sarfraz Ahmed, skipper in the T20Is and vice-captain in the ODIs, is doing a great job behind the stumps. “Sarfraz is doing a wonderful job as a wicketkeeper. I hope he continues performing this way.”

‘My fitness has also improved’

The right-hander also claimed that he has been focusing on his fitness, stating that he is fitter than ever before despite being on the wrong side of 30. “My fitness is also better as I never compromised on it even after I was dropped,” he said. “I am ready to play at any position and in every format. I believe I still have a lot of cricket left in me and deserve a chance as a batsman because of my performances.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2016.

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