It Is Unbelievable That We Won The Test Match After Being 6-39: Kamran Akmal Recalls His Counter-Attacking 113 Against India In The 2006 Karachi Test

Kamran Akmal, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman, may have had his fair share of issues with regards to his keeping skills, but fans often tend to forget his batting prowess.

Akmal’s batting talent was on full display during the series decider of the 2006 Test series between India and Pakistan in Karachi. The Test match is best remembered for Irfan Pathan’s hat-trick but one often tends to forget that Pakistan eventually went on to win the Test match and Kamran Akmal’s counter-attacking 113 that lifted the home side from a precarious 6-39 to 245 in the 1st innings, played a huge role in it.

Akmal recently reminisced about the match-winning knock in the latest edition of the Youtube show Cric Cast. The wicketkeeper-batsman recalled Inzamam Ul Haq’s advice- to play his natural game- minutes before he strolled out to bat.

“Honestly speaking, nothing was going on in my mind. I was still new in the team and did not have that much pressure.” Kamran Akmal said.

“Inzi bhai was sitting out that match, he had a back injury. I was sitting with him in the dressing room and he was very concerned in the dressing room regarding what was happening.” he recalled.

“He just told me to play my natural game like the way I had played against India in India and the manner in which I had got the hundred in Australia. He told that whatever happens, will not be worse than the situation at that time.” Akmal added.

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Kamran Akmal recalls his masterly 113 vs India in 2006

Akmal recalled the fierce that he hit RP Singh at the start of his innings gave him a lot of confidence.

“As soon as I went in, I cut RP Singh for a boundary through point which gave me a lot of heart. When it is 39/6 and you play a shot like that, it gives you a lot of confidence. I strung small partnerships with the tail.”

Abdul Razzaq [45] and Shoaib Akhtar [45] chipped in with vital contributions and Aknal acknowledged that it was because of the duo’s contributions that helped him stitch those partnerships which helped Pakistan post a respectable 245 in their first innings.

“First with Razzaq bhai, who scored 40-odd runs again there. Shoaib bhai also got 40-odd runs. With the help of those small partnerships, we ended up scoring more than 240.” he added.

If it was Kamran Akmal in the first innings and the entire batting-unit with the bat that set-up the game for Pakistan, it was Mohammad Asif with the ball who ensured that the home side eventually win the game by a whopping 341 runs.

And, Akmal to this day, still can’t believe that Pakistan eventually went on to win the Test match and the series 1-0.

“Even now when I think, it is unbelievable that we won the Test match after being 39/6. After that, the way the bowlers responded – Asif, Shoaib, Danish, and the all-round performance of Razzaq bhai. Everyone scored in the 2nd innings, first 7 batsmen scored fifties and Faisal Iqbal scored a century. Those two innings I will always remember, and we also won that Test series in Pakistan,” he added.

Kamran Akmal’s 113 was picked by Wisden as the best innings played by a wicket-keeper batsman in the 2000s.