'Akmal should take a break for a while'

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif advised wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal to work on his basics.

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has advised wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal to take a break from cricket in order to prolong his international career.

Latif was of the view that unless Kamran took a break from the game and worked on his basics he would continue to struggle at the top level.

"The problem with Kamran is that he is overweight for a keeper and also jaded. He is playing constant cricket and he needs to take a break and come back afresh", Latif said.

Kamran, who made his international debut in 2003, was also dropped after the second Test in Sydney early this year after he fumbled with at least four catches, missed a stumping and a big run-out against Australia.

He repeated his inconsistent form during the first Test against England at Nottingham last week, dropping two catches and also missed a big stumping in the England first innings which eventually saw Pakistan suffer a massive 354 runs defeat.

Latif said that Kamran needs to take a break for a while, shed weight and work on his basics once again. "He will only comeback stronger if he realises his weak areas and what he needs to do to iron out the problems. Because of his poor keeping his confidence as a batsman has also suffered," Latif was quoted as saying on the website "cricket.yahoo.com".

He pointed out the international level regular misses from the wicketkeeper were criminal. "He is an experienced player and has done well in the past but he is now facing issues which he himself must work out while taking a break," Latif said.

However Pakistan has a reserve keeper Zulqarnain Haider in England but Captain Salman Butt said after the Nottingham defeat that Kamran has to show character and come back stronger in the second Test at Edgbaston.