Whoever performs deserves to be in the team: Kamran Akmal

The wicket-keeper batsman says the real challenge for Sarfraz lays ahead in maintaining his performances

Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal excelled at batting in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League as he led Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel to their first CPL victory.

However, despite the improved form, Kamran finds himself out of the national team. Instead his place seems to be taken over by Sarfraz Ahmed, who slowly made his way into the Pakistan team through Tests and then gradually established a spot for himself in the ODIs as well.

The 28-year-old is now also being touted to become the next Twenty20 captain of Pakistan.

When asked whether competition from Sarfraz puts extra pressure on him, Kamran said competing for one’s spot in the team was not a new experience.

“Look there is always competition at any given point in time. Once we had Rashid Latif and Moin Khan competing with each other," said the eldest Akmal while speaking to PakPassion.net.

Whoever performs the best for the team deserves to be with the team and that’s all there is to it,”

He added that although Sarfraz had performed well up till now, the real test would be to continue to sustain such high levels of performance.

“He is a good friend, and my best wishes are with the Pakistan team," said Kamran.

“Sarfraz has done very well for Pakistan but I believe that the main challenge for him is to maintain the high levels of performance in every game he plays.”

When questioned whether his recent excellent batting gave him hope of being recalled to the Pakistan team, Kamran said he does not ponder over questions which are out of his control.

“The way I look at it is that my job is to perform well and it’s the job of the selectors to select the best players in the country. I will continue performing to the best of my abilities in the same way I have done in the past.

He said that the decision of his return rested with the selectors, all he could do to make his case is to perform consistently.

“Whether I am included in the Pakistan team or not is not under my control. I can only control what is within my power which is to play good cricket. When the time is right and the Almighty so wishes, I will make my comeback to the Pakistan national team. I will always have the desire and passion to play for my country,” said the 33-year-old.

Kamran was also asked about Azhar Ali and in his opinion, the new ODI captain had let his batting do the talking when it came to his critics.

"Azhar Ali has put in some amazing performances for the Pakistan ODI team. This is really commendable when you see that he hardly got a chance to play in ODIs and was always considered a Test player. But when he got the chance, he showed everyone what he was capable of as we saw in the three ODI series he has played in as a batsman and captain," said Kamran.

"Criticism and doubt about his abilities is the work of former players and media and they should be left to their devices. The players just need to deliver their end of the bargain and not care about who is captain or other such matters."