Cricket: Kamran hopes to play in Bangladesh league

Discarded keeper seeks exposure as PCB bars Test players from participating

KARACHI: With the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) barring those Test players who will likely be a part of the forthcoming series against England from participating in the Bangladesh league, discarded wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is keeping his fingers crossed over his participation in the 50-over event. 

The PCB has stopped Test players from playing in the league to avoid burnout and possible injuries before the important series against England next month.

The players who have been barred from playing in the event include Younus Khan, Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez and Abdul Rehman, while the PCB is yet to make a decision on giving the go-ahead to those who are not the part of team.

However, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal who has been overlooked for the national side ever since the World Cup is gearing up for the event.

“I’m hoping to get clearance from the PCB,” Akmal told The Express Tribune. “The board is only stopping players who are part of the team and since I’m not playing for Pakistan right now, I’m confident that I’ll get the NOC. I’m scheduled to leave for Bangladesh next week.”

Seeks international exposure

The wicket-keeper said that the upcoming event was a good chance for him to gain some international exposure.

“Bangladesh will be hosting the Asia Cup and if I’m recalled for that, my stint in the league can help a lot.”

‘Clearance not certain for any player’

Meanwhile, Wahab Riaz, Umar Akmal, Sohail Tanveer, Umar Amin, Qaiser Abbas and Nasir Jamshed are the other players who have been approached by the organisers to play in the event. However, a PCB official said the board has not yet made a decision on giving NOCs to any of the players.

“No player has contacted us in this regard yet,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2011.