Kamran Akmal Wants A Keeper-Batsman To Partner Babar Azam At The Top

Overlooked Pakistan gloveman Kamran Akmal has underlined a few areas the national team needs to focus on to accomplish better results. When playing for the national team, Kamran Akmal often used to open the innings for Pakistan and give an explosive start. The veteran keeper-batsman suggested the management the same to partner Babar Azam at the top.

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Pakistan lost the Test series and managed to draw the T20 series in England. Babar Azam, who entered the three-match T20 rubber as the number one batsman, scored a fifty in two games.

Despite drawing the leg, the men in green’s performances were below-par in the series. Hence, Kamran Akmal wants Pakistan to make some changes to their combination, specifically opening with the wicketkeeper.

Kamran Akmal recommends for a bowling all-rounder in the middle order, who can score swiftly as well. Akmal suggested that Pakistan should try out Faheem Ashraf, Amir Yamin, and Amad Butt and concedes that the tourists should have won the series instead. The veteran went on to praise Wahab Riaz’s contribution in the final of two wickets and lauded Mohammad Hafeez’s use of experience, amassing 155 runs. Akmal moved on to hail Hafeez for guiding the youngster Haider Ali, who smashed a sparkling fifty on debut.

“We need good bowling all-rounder for the middle-order who can score fast while batting well. The team can try Faheem Ashraf, Amir Yamin or Amad Butt for the purpose. It was good to draw the T20I series but we could have won it.

“Wahab Riaz’s spell proved his worth for the team while Mohammad Hafeez proved that there was no replacement for experience. Seniors can teach a lot to the juniors in the side. Hafeez helped guide the young Haider Ali and played a sensational knock alongside the youngster. Scoring his first fifty in English conditions is a fantastic achievement for Haider Ali,” Akmal stated as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

They will have to be better by learning from all their shortcomings for the future: Kamran Akmal

Kamran Akmal added that Pakistan could have successfully defended 195 in the second T20 international if Wahab featured. The 157-ODI veteran conceded that James Anderson and Stuart Broad fared exceedingly well in the Test series unlike Pakistan pacers, who concentrated only on pace. Hence, he expects the youngsters to take the learnings to shape up a better future.

“They could have defended their score if they had played Wahab Riaz in the second T20I. Spinners from both sides had gone for runs. Fast-bowlers bowled better in the match. Pakistan should have performed better in the Test series as well.

“The bowlers could not perform according to our expectations. On the flip side, James Anderson and Stuart Broad dominated through their line and length. Our bowlers were more focused on pace. They should not just forget their mistakes. They will have to be better by learning from all their shortcomings for the future,” the Lahore-born added.

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