http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kamran-Akmal-c70122 returns to the fold for the ICC World T20 2012 - Opinion
After trying a number of young wicketkeepers in different formats, the Green Shirts have reverted back to their ace gloveman, Kamran Akmal, for the forthcoming T20 series against Australia in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 (UAE) as well as the ICC World T20 2012,
to be held in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in September/October.
Since the retirement of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Moin-Khan-c77092, the two wicketkeepers from Karachi, Akmal became the natural choice for selectors, having done brilliantly at the domestic circuit. The 30-year-old cricketer from Lahore did not disappoint, cementing his
place in the national team in 2004 in both Test cricket as well as the limited-overs format of the game.
Apart from being safe behind the stumps, Akmal played some extra-ordinary knocks with the bat to gain the confidence of selectors. The stylish batsman’s maiden international century came against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, when he
thrashed a match-winning 124.
Since then, Kamran never looked back and came up with a number of amazing performances for the country. The highlight of Akmal’s career remains his brilliant ton at the National Stadium, Karachi, against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 had lost their top three batsmen
on the opening day without a run on the board.
The wicketkeeper/batsman’s form with the gloves however, dipped during the England tour in the same year, struggling with the additional movement of the ball in the air. However, he remained an integral part of the national team because of his exceptional
batting skills.
England tours never suited Akmal, where he always faced a slump in form. Pakistan’s controversial tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 proved to be a disaster for the wicketkeeper, who struggled behind the stumps, and was also named in the spot-fixing scandal, only to be cleared
after a couple of days.
Kamran eventually lost the confidence of the team management and the selectors after a poor show in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, where the keeper dropped a number of crucial catches and hampered his team’s progress in the event.
The national selectors have given opportunities to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shakeel-Ansar-c89546. Except for Adnan, who made the Test spot his own, none of the glovemen were able to impress, especially with the
bat, urging the authorities to call upon the seasoned keeper once again.
Former Pakistan captain and legendary cricketer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292, is happy to see the cricketer from Lahore back in the team and praised his skills with the bat, “In my view Kamran is the best opener in T20 cricket".
Pakistan’s chief selector, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Iqbal-Qasim-c76980, after announcing the World T20 squad, expressed that he was not satisfied with Ansar’s performance, who was preferred for the T20 series against Sri Lanka and feels that Akmal is the best choice for the mega event.
“The boy [Shakeel Ansar] who we selected for the T20s in Sri Lanka based on domestic performances; he did not provide a good impression or show a spark to us to make us believe he could deliver with his performance,” the chief selector said. “At this stage,
as Kamran was cleared and as we didn't have any other options, then we decided to select Kamran for this short project.”
Kamran and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20s for the country so far. Pakistan cricket fans will be hoping that the wicketkeeper will bring all his experience into play to enhance the Green Shirts’ chances
in the illustrious tournament.
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