Kamran Akmal Lashes Out At Pakistan Team After Their Lackluster Performance In The First ODI Against England

Pakistan veteran keeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has slammed the national team for their horror outing in the first ODI against England in Cardiff. Pakistan succumbed to 141 in the first innings, with most of their frontline batsmen failing against an inexperienced bowling attack. Kamran Akmal lamented the lack of consistency in performance and in the selection process.

Pakistan would have fancied themselves in beating England in the first of the three ODIs after the hosts named an inexperienced squad after COVID-19 struck their camp. Instead, the tourists failed to stand up to England’s bowling attack, two of whom were debutants. Saqib Mahmood, who dismissed Pakistan’s ace batsman Babar Azam, grabbed figures of 10-1-42-4. After that, Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan made fifties, taking England to a nine-wicket win.

Kamran Akmal underlined that it is uncertain as to which way Pakistan is heading as despite having a full-strength side, they could not emerge victorious. The veteran cricketer feels the team lacked the character, while their selection process and performance is not right either.

“I don’t understand which way our performance is heading. It should get better by the day but Pakistan had a fully confident team who had played PSL, beaten South Africa. Wins and losses are part and parcel but character needs to be shown now. Neither our cricket nor our selection process is right,” Akmal said in his Youtube channel.

Ben Stokes’ captaincy was outstanding: Kamran Akmal

Kamran Akmal further claimed that there was no difference between the performances produced by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who left England winless in five limited-overs games. The 39-year old hailed Ben Stokes’ captaincy and stated that the hosts did something the men in green must have done.

“The way Pakistan played cricket, it didn’t feel as if Sri Lanka had left England. It felt as if England was playing against Sri Lanka itself. England did something that Pakistan should have done, bowling the opposition out for 141. Ben Stokes’ captaincy was outstanding,” he added.

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