PALLEKELE: It was a match to forget for Kamran Akmal after the Pakistan wicket-keeper’s poor performance was singled out as the reasons for the team’s humiliating loss against New Zealand. The performance came after Kamran, who also missed stumping chances against Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament, admitted he was going through a rough patch in his career but was “trying his best”.
“Every player commits a few mistakes and faces difficulties during his career.
“I’m trying to get through this phase and improve my performance.”
But after the match against New Zealand, Kamran has come under a scathing attack from all quarters for his sloppy glovework that allowed Ross Taylor have lives on nought and eight to smash a whirlwind 131.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi admitted that the wicket-keeper could be replaced by younger brother Umar. And although Afridi defended Kamran, the all-rounder stated that Pakistan were looking at other options.
“Keeping with Umar is very much an option and we might try it in the next game [against Zimbabwe on Monday],” said Afridi.
“If you see Kamran train, he puts in a lot of hard work. I don’t know why luck deserted him. He is also upset about his performance and he realises it too.”
‘Don’t blame everything on Kamran’
Coach Waqar Younis also hinted that Kamran is on borrowed time, but that a decision on his future behind the stumps could be delayed until after the World Cup.
“Those were straight sitters, it was not as if they were difficult catches, but then it’s cricket and such things do happen. It was a bad day for him,” said Younis.
“I think maybe after the World Cup we can think about it but now we are in the middle of the tournament and I don’t think we can make such a change and panic. We should not.”
A roller-coaster international career
He was first dropped in 2008 for the Asia Cup and again in 2010 when he missed five chances against Australia in Sydney.
The 28-year-old also needed clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Integrity Committee before being allowed to take part in the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Younis also praised Taylor’s innings and said it was not the time to press the panic button.
“I guess the way he played, you play just one or two innings like that in your life.”
Fans venting anger
While the team management decided not to panic, emotional cricket fans went berserk on Twitter and Facebook, venting their frustration.
“World’s greatest birthday gift declared by Guinness — Kamran Akmal for Ross Taylor.”
“Kamran thinks being a wicket-keeper means letting the batsman keep his wicket.” These messages along with a host of others have been circulated around social networking websites after the wicket-keeper’s poor performance.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2011.
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