It was a simple, regulation catch but Pakistan’s players celebrated it as if Kamran Akmal had held a blinder to dismiss Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor in the very first over of their World Cup Pool A game here on Monday.
Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, patted Kamran on his cheeks while their teammates joined the celebration after Taylor — Zimbabwe’s most dangerous batsman — was dismissed on the fifth ball of the day by medium pacer Abdul Razzaq. The bowler was almost ignored as Kamran took centre-stage.
Five days back at the same venue, Kamran had allowed a double reprieve to another Taylor and he made Pakistan pay for the let-offs. Ross Taylor, the New Zealand vice-captain, smashed an incredible 131 to guide his team to a 110-run triumph and Kamran seemed to be in serious trouble.
Pakistan thought about replacing Kamran with his younger brother — Umar — behind the stumps but the younger Akmal was ruled out of the match against Zimbabwe because of an injured finger.
Like the number 23 that he wears on his shirt, Kamran has become quite an enigma.
His supporters regard him as a perfect choice as wicketkeeper at least for the limited-overs game because of his batting skills.
But his critics, who seem to outnumber Kamran’s supporters quite overwhelmingly, believe he is one of the weak links in the Pakistan team because of the opportunities he squanders behind the stumps and should be replaced by a more reliable gloveman.
So what’s dogging Kamran, who began his career as a bright young cricketer and was once regarded among the leading stumpers in international cricket?
The problem could be his weight, comments Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper.
“When he (Kamran) joined the Pakistan cricket team in 2002 his weight was 68-kg but now he weighs 79-kg. He is over-weight because a wicket-keeper in international cricket should be under-weight like a jockey,” Latif told ‘The News’ on Monday.
Latif, a former Pakistan captain, recommends that Kamran should do some long-distance running regularly. “During off season, he should run 10 miles every day. Apart from that, swimming, crunches, push-ups and heavy short sprints can also help him.”
Latif believes that heavy training in the gym has ‘destroyed’ Kamran.
“Gym training has destroyed his career,” he says. “He looks like a beach boy rather than a cricketer.”
Kamran is also dogged by other issues, says Latif. “His concentration level is not good, he seems mentally disturbed. That’s why there are so many lapses behind the stumps.”
The 29-year-old Kamran has scored 2835 from 133 One-day International appearances at an average of 27.25 and has struck five ODI tons. But his last century (116 not out) came almost two years back against Australia in Abu Dhabi and since then he has rarely played any big knocks.
Latif is of the view that Kamran can do better with the bat if he shows more patience at the crease. “He is good batsman but he tries too many shots early on. He can improve his wicket-keeping and batting if he is willing to work harder.”
Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, patted Kamran on his cheeks while their teammates joined the celebration after Taylor — Zimbabwe’s most dangerous batsman — was dismissed on the fifth ball of the day by medium pacer Abdul Razzaq. The bowler was almost ignored as Kamran took centre-stage.
Five days back at the same venue, Kamran had allowed a double reprieve to another Taylor and he made Pakistan pay for the let-offs. Ross Taylor, the New Zealand vice-captain, smashed an incredible 131 to guide his team to a 110-run triumph and Kamran seemed to be in serious trouble.
Pakistan thought about replacing Kamran with his younger brother — Umar — behind the stumps but the younger Akmal was ruled out of the match against Zimbabwe because of an injured finger.
Like the number 23 that he wears on his shirt, Kamran has become quite an enigma.
His supporters regard him as a perfect choice as wicketkeeper at least for the limited-overs game because of his batting skills.
But his critics, who seem to outnumber Kamran’s supporters quite overwhelmingly, believe he is one of the weak links in the Pakistan team because of the opportunities he squanders behind the stumps and should be replaced by a more reliable gloveman.
So what’s dogging Kamran, who began his career as a bright young cricketer and was once regarded among the leading stumpers in international cricket?
The problem could be his weight, comments Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper.
“When he (Kamran) joined the Pakistan cricket team in 2002 his weight was 68-kg but now he weighs 79-kg. He is over-weight because a wicket-keeper in international cricket should be under-weight like a jockey,” Latif told ‘The News’ on Monday.
Latif, a former Pakistan captain, recommends that Kamran should do some long-distance running regularly. “During off season, he should run 10 miles every day. Apart from that, swimming, crunches, push-ups and heavy short sprints can also help him.”
Latif believes that heavy training in the gym has ‘destroyed’ Kamran.
“Gym training has destroyed his career,” he says. “He looks like a beach boy rather than a cricketer.”
Kamran is also dogged by other issues, says Latif. “His concentration level is not good, he seems mentally disturbed. That’s why there are so many lapses behind the stumps.”
The 29-year-old Kamran has scored 2835 from 133 One-day International appearances at an average of 27.25 and has struck five ODI tons. But his last century (116 not out) came almost two years back against Australia in Abu Dhabi and since then he has rarely played any big knocks.
Latif is of the view that Kamran can do better with the bat if he shows more patience at the crease. “He is good batsman but he tries too many shots early on. He can improve his wicket-keeping and batting if he is willing to work harder.”
