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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Oh Captain, my Captain

Walking through the corridors of Al Jazeera, I bump into our sports editor who immediately lowers his gaze and begins drumming his fingers on an imaginary key board only to peer up and give me the look: "Where is your new cricket blog mate?"
I defensively interject the silent Beethoven with "Dude, have you been watching the cricket ... I've been busy, you know with revolutions happening all around, people begging, dying for freedom, and well, the cricket has just been so dull," I try to argue, sheepishly.
"I don't know what you're talking about mate," he replies with a wry smile. "I was just practising my piano keys," and he continues playing his air-keyboard.
"Well - did you hear what happened today," he stops-states-questions. "Taylor made a 100 of 29 balls - is that even possible?"
"Twenty-nine balls? Are you serious?" I quiz back nonsensically.
"Well, this what I heard, and it was against Pakistan ... seems far-fetched to me, but again, is that even possible?"
"What! You're being serious? I thought you were exaggerating ..." I trail off.
I don't know why I was surprised. These days, in cricket as in life or in Hollywood, anything is possible where Pakistan is involved.
Yes, a low blow, but my Pakistani friends will agree that though Ross Taylor did not make 100 off 29 balls as my editor had thrilled me into believing for a while, Pakistan's miserable loss to New Zealand could never pass without a few jibes.
However, on a more positive note, the loss might just resurrect the team, perhaps even mark the turning point in the team's success at the tournament.
"They are now forced into a corner," my Pakistani mate tells me with some conviction.
South Asians love their metaphors and allegories, so I am guessing he means that a vulnerable Pakistani team usually turn themselves into quite a lethal prospect in the remaining fixtures and I cannot agree more.
Likewise, England's remarkable defeat to the charged up tigers of Bengal aka Bangladesh yesterday, might just prove to be the turning point in the tournament as teams enter the business end, desperately hoping to make the final eight.
'An impasse'
We are now at a juncture, which war journalists, story tellers and other tobacco chewers would describe as 'an impasse'.
As England's performances thus far: a tie with India, a loss to Ireland, a win against South Africa and now a loss to Bangladesh, suggest, there is very little to separate teams at the tournament.
Team victories and losses have so far seem to have been whimsically aligned to mood swings as much as they might have been influenced by playing conditions or poor crowd turnouts, turning the tournament into a collection of lacklustre encounters that would not even make the stuff of idle talk at the most boring of dinner parties.
And having ascertained that this is the most open of World Cups, with any one of the big Test playing nations holding an equal shot of winning the tournament or conversely plummeting to suicidal lows by losing to an Ireland or Canada along the way - winning this tournament will ultimately be decided the old fashioned way: good old captaincy.
Yes, captaincy.
People don't realise it, but cricket captains are modern knights leading their merry men dressed in colourful pyjamas to war wielding heavy bats like sharpened swords.
As the thinking man's (or woman's) game, it has always been as much about strategy as it might be about brute force, clean hitting and quirky sledges. With 10 players to lead, boasting such distinctly different roles in a game that requires continuous deliberation, varying field positions and slow-burning-patience, captaining a cricket side takes more balls than it does to don the armband in the most iconic of footballing derbies.
When a cricket captain leads you out onto the oval, it is a call to arms. Albeit folded arms sometimes, as you mutate into feed for skin cancer under the blazing sun waiting for something to happen.

But this is a war God damn-it!
And if you think I am joking, consider the previous teams who walked away with the trophy.
While Viv Richards in '79, Inzamam Ul-Haq in '92, Sanath Jayasuriya in '96, Shane Warne in '99  and Glenn Mcgrath in ‘07 are all celebrated for their individual, even iconic performances that helped their teams win the World Cup,  it is usually the likes of Clive Lloyd,  Imran Khan, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Waugh as captains who made it happen that form the nucleus of the real story.
The aforementioned captains played instrumental roles in their World Cup triumphs; it is as if the tournament's history could never be imagined any other way (though South African fans will forever claim it was Hansie Cronje's World Cup in '99 and not Steve Waugh's)
Oh Captain, my Captain?
Australia's demise has been noted, documented, even pummeled to the death already, and though Ricky Ponting barely looks himself and seems even more benign as a leader these days, the Australian unit is still so strong, even Mickey Mouse could run it.
If the Aussies win it, it would be a gift from the lads to Ponting, not the other way round.
Likewise, South Africa’s Graeme Smith, despite his impressive innovative approach on team selection and his healthy use of his beefy spinner contingent, he still needs to find good personal form to perform his best as a skipper. His scratching around at the top of the order is unhealthy for the team, but one good performance against a team like India today, could change all that.
In saying that, Smith is not the type of captain I would jump off a bridge for, but South African fans are wary of charismatic captains lest they release Hansie Cronje type revelations, for whom, incidentally, I would have thrown any amount of games for.
If South Africa do win the World Cup, their new found innovative approach would be the story, and not necessarily Smith, their captain.
Meanwhile, Daniel Vettori, as distinguished as he might look, still seems to search for Stephen Fleming every now and then on the field, and, on a separate note, could do with some new frames. Frankly, it is rather hard to imagine New Zealand winning the World Cup, and even harder imagining Vettori on an ESPN documentary about the great captains who inspired their teams' triumph. The Kiwis just do not look the part.
Though England’s Andrew Strauss is already so close to knighthood for bringing home the Ashes, inspiring an England ODI revolution after looking so lackluster and rudderless would be to ask too much. It might even damage the game. The Pommies should go home and get some rest.
The fancied
This brings us to India's MS Dhoni and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakarra: the type of captains players would sacrifice their IPL contracts for.
Not only do Dhoni and Sangakkara play with 100 per cent commitment, guts and boyish fervour, there is also a wily genius about them that keeps their cricketing intellect under the radar as they go about out-witting opposition.
Dhoni has pulled rabbits out of helmets since he took over the captaincy, while Sangakkara has lent a touch of sophistication to the team's demeanour.
Both are match winners, both would lift the trophy and become part of cricketing folklore for the gritty, but incessant out-of-the-box charm over their soldiers.
Their victory would be the bread and butter story of the World Cup; of clever captains and stable middle orders.
Somehow a World Cup triumph, though perhaps deserved for either captain would seem ultimately too banal.
This is why I am putting my money on Shahid Afridi to wake this tournament out of its drunken stupor.
Have you seen him marshal his team with his deadly stares and enthusiastic banter? Do you notice how his performance rubs on a team, a country desperately searching for esteem, even vindication?
Like Dhoni and Sangakarra, Afridi is involved in every facet of the game; an all rounder, an instrumental anarchist who leads the one team in this tournament with so little to lose.
There is an honesty in Afridi's unrelenting commitment to the game that is endearing, even if his fortunes mirror the ambivalence of the Pakistani game itself.
Either way, Afridi would have made an impressive general in the third Pathan regiment of the Pakistani army.
The Pakistan captain's appointment is so out of the box, so outrageous, his locks and slippery leg spinners so exceedingly vivacious, a Pakistan triumph might just make the greatest World Cup story yet.
Posted by ADMIN at 11:42 PM

Pakistan Cricket team restarts practice session


fter a defeat against New Zealand team in the World Cup, Pakistan Cricket team started practice in Kandy, Umar Akmal was seen practicing behind the stumps whereas Kamran was seen upset here on Thursday.
After the practice session, National Cricket Team’s Manager Intikhab Alam expressed that it wasn’t fair to yell over losing a match after winning three in a row.
He said losing and winning is a part of the game and the spectators must show patience.
Pakistan Cricket team restarted practice session in Kandy, Umar Akmal was seen practicing behind the stumps whereas Kamran was upset.
Performance of the players wasn’t upto the mark against New Zealand. They have started the practice sessions against to overcome their discrepancies. By winning in the upcoming matches we would bring happiness to the cricket lovers once again.
Posted by ADMIN at 11:41 PM

PAKISTAN TEAM COACH INTIKHAB ALAM CONDEMNS CRITICISM ON PAKISTAN CRICKET TEAM

Pakistan team coach Intikhab Alam condemns criticism on Pakistan cricket teamPakistan cricket team manager Intikhab Alam has condemned criticism of the national team after their humiliating 110-run defeat to New Zealand in their group match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011.

Talking to reporters at the Pallekele Stadium, the manager said other teams had also lost matches and thatPakistan are not the first team to lose a match. He added that the players needed support from their people to come up with better results in the tournament.
Alam admitting that wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal had performed poorly. He said Akmal may be replaced with his brother Umar Akmal in the next match. He also said that the keeper, himself, was quite upset over his performance, but the management did not allow any player to let his morale droop. He said the team’s supporters should help boost the players’ morale.
“I don't think it is right for either of us or our supporters and former players to panic after one defeat. We made mistakes, we dropped crucial catches and we didn't click at all against New Zealand, but that does not mean that we are out of the World Cup,” he said.
He also said that the management had discussed the recent defeat with the players and were trying to learn from the mistakes. “We will gain nothing by panicking and we have to manage with the available 15 players in the World Cup,” he said.
Kamran Akmal gave a poor show in the group match of the tournament against New Zealand where he missed three catches, with two of Ross Taylor when he was at zero and four. Akmal’s miserable wicket-keeping provided the opponents a golden chances towards the 110-run victory over the Pakistani team.
Taylor did not waste the opportunities and hit the splendid innings of unbeaten 131 runs off 124 balls including eight fours and seven sixes. His big run score helped Black Caps to set a huge target of 303 runs in fifty overs.
Pakistan started off with poor batting performance and ended their innings with just 192 runs in 41.4 overs all out. None of the batsmen could score fifty accept Abdur- Razzaq who hit 62 runs off 72 balls including nine fours. Their defeat dropped them to second place in the group A.
The former Test captain also said that the keeper should not be blamed alone as whole team is accountable for this humiliating defeat. He said that in a team work, blame or credit does not go to a single individual, rather whole team should be responsible.
Media reports have revealed that there is a rare possibility that Kamran would be side lined in the next match against Zimbabwe as all senior players including skipper Shahid Afridi are backing him despite his poor show.
Pakistan will have their fifth group encounter with Zimbabwe on Monday at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
source
Posted by ADMIN at 11:27 PM

The Drop Machine – Kamran Akmal




SOURCE FROM  WHICH ARTICLE  IS  COPIED


We must first pay tribute to the man who made it all possible – the Maharajah of Missed Chances, the Don Corleone of Dropped Catches, the Earl of Err, the Pharaoh of Fumble, Lance Corporal Granite Hands himself, Kamran Akmal.
Let us count his Dropped catches and Missed Stumping.
Pakistan in England Test Series – 1st Test
England v Pakistan
63.2 Collingwood was on 79(Final Score = 186)
Umar Gul to Collingwood, no run, gone, out, no! Dropped! Leg-cutter, outside edge straight to Kamran Akmal ? dreadful shot from Collingwood I might add ? and, somehow, Akmal shelled it. Deafening silence from the captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, and not much more being said from the slips. Ooh, that?s a shocker
Pakistan in England Test Series – 3rd Test
England v Pakistan

38.2 Collingwood was on 21(Final Score = 31)
Shahid Nazir to Collingwood, no run, yikes, Collingwood hangs his bat out to dry ? good away-swing from Shahid again ? but it passes his outside edge. Nevertheless, Akmal somehow drops a clanger and the ball bobbles from his gloves
5.4 ME Trescothick was on 7(Final Score = 58)
Umar Gul to Trescothick, no run, DROPPED, Kamran Akmal has dropped him. A terrific ball from Gul rising on Trescothick who feathers an edge. Gul goes up to celebrate but Akmal, with iron gloves, clangs a sitter

Pakistan in England Test Series – 4th Test
England v Pakistan


36.1 KP Pietersen was on 15 (Final Score = 96)
Danish Kaneria to Pietersen, no run, oooh, outside edge and dropped. Snorter of a delivery, Pietersen’s caught in two minds, and Akmal can’t hold on to the feather. Kaneria’s just not having the luck today.
West Indies in Pakistan Test Series – 3rd Test
Pakistan v West Indies


83.1 DBL Powell was on 1 (Final Score = 1)
Umar Gul to Powell, no run, DROPPED! good length delivery wide outside the off stump, pitches and moves away, comes forward and feels for it, gets the edge to the right of Akmal, who dives across and puts down the catch.
63.3 Ramdin was on 10 (Final Score = 25*)
Abdul Razzaq to Ramdin, no run, Dropped! fraction short on the off stump, swinging away nicely, Ramdin moves back to defend, gets squared up by the outswinger, thick edge and Akmal dives to his right and fails to catch.

Pakistan in South Africa Test Series – 2nd Test
South Africa v Pakistan


17.2 AG Prince was on 2 (Final Score = 2)
Mohammad Sami to Prince, no run, ooh, dropped by Akmal. That was a long way across Prince, who slashes a thick edge through and it pops in and out of Akmal’s gloves at chest height. What a costly miss that could be – Prince has been in such good form
22.3 Gibbs was on 2 (Final Score = 2)
Danish Kaneria to Gibbs, no run, ooh! Edge again – but dropped. Kaneria sent the ball bending back in at the right hander, taking the edge and spilled again by Akmal. Good bowling, this
70.1 Kallis was on 63 (Final Score = 91)
Danish Kaneria to Kallis, no run, oh no – has Akmal dropped yet another one? Ooh, not sure – Kallis went chasing that one and seemed to feather it through to Akmal who drops it. But the replays are inconclusive. Akmal’s having a poor match anyway.
103.1 MV Boucher was on 27 (Final Score = 46)
Mohammad Hafeez to Boucher, no run, Akmal drops another one! tossed up and this one turned back in sharply, Boucher defends on the back-foot and the ball clips the inside edge and goes behind but Akmal fails to hold on to a fairly easy chance. He is clearly having a tough time out there
117.3 MV Boucher was on 44 (Final Score = 46)
Danish Kaneria to Boucher, 2 runs, cuts and gets an edge, DROPPED! by Akmal, who lets another chance go by
South Africa in Pakistan Test Series – 1st Test
Pakistan v South Africa

54.5 Kallis was on 36 (Final Score = 155)
Danish Kaneria to Kallis, no run, outside off, short, forcing off the back foot, DROPPED, edges, Akmal can not hold on
South Africa in Pakistan Test Series – 2nd Test
Pakistan v South Africa


13.4 Smith was on 18 (Final Score = 133)
Danish Kaneria to Smith, 1 run, DROPPED, drives from the front foot, turns back from the rough, inside edge, pad, Akmal tries to get the full glove to it, hard chance put down
Pakistan in India Test Series – 2nd Test
India v Pakistan

55.6 Tendulkar was on 28 (Final Score = 82)
Mohammad Sami to Tendulkar, 1 run, dropped by Akmal. Not a surprise, actually. Only surprise is he usually catches Tendulkar. It was banged in short, outside off stump, Tendulkar decides late to go for a upper cut, doesn’t connect properly and Akmal thrusts his right glove out but fails to hold on and ends up palming it behind him.
Sri Lanka in Pakistan Test Series – 2nd Test
Pakistan v Sri Lanka

59.4 Samaraweera was on 69 (Final Score = 214)
Danish Kaneria to Samaraweera, 1 run, dropped, Kamran this time, outside off, stretches forward and gets the edge, Kamran puts it down.

Pakistan in Sri Lanka Test Series – 1st Test
Sri Lanka v Pakistan


7.2 Jayawardene was on 0 (Final Score = 30)
Mohammad Amir to Jayawardene, no run, Dropped Akmal’s the culprit, Aamer bowls it in the corridor outside off and induces a nick, Akmal didn’t have to move, he’s dropped a sitter

Pakistan in Sri Lanka Test Series – 3rd Test
Sri Lanka v Pakistan


29.3 AD Mathews was on 12 (Final Score = 31)
Saeed Ajmal to Mathews, no run, dropped, Akmal spills it, spun back in but not as much as Mathews expected, played inside the line while trying to defend, got a thin edge but Akmal could not pouch it, tried again at the second attempt but failed.

Pakistan in New Zealand Test Series – 1st Test
New Zealand v Pakistan


123.3 Vettori was on 91 (Final Score = 99)
Umar Gul to Vettori, FOUR, Dropped Confusion between Farhat and Akmal, Gul holds the length back and Vettori hangs his bat out and gets a thick outside edge, the ball flies through the gap between keeper and first slip and both went for it but the ball beat them both.

Pakistan in Australia Test Series – 2nd Test
Australia v Pakistan


52.6 Hussey Was on 27 (Final Score = 134)
Danish Kaneria to Hussey, no run, trying playing defensively from the crease, Hussey’s beaten by a ball that rips past the outside edge of his upright bat
Subsquent replays suggest this may have been a dropped catch by Kamran Akmal. If it was it only got the faintest edge from Hussey’s bat.
Oh yes, definitely an edge looking at it from front-on.
62.2 Hussey Was on 45 (Final Score = 134)
Danish Kaneria to Hussey, no run, dropped, defensively forward, inside edge onto pad, through to the keeper who spills it
66.4 Hussey Was on 52 (Final Score = 134)
Danish Kaneria to Hussey, no run, dropped, pushing at a ball outside off, a thick outside edge is split by the wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.
113.2 PM Siddle was on 25 (Final Score = 38)
Mohammad Sami to Siddle, 1 run, dropped, short ball down leg, Siddle swishes at it, gloves it but it’s dropped by the keeper to his left, should have taken it, the ball runs away for a single
Pakistan in England Test Series – 1st Test
England v Pakistan


4.3 AJ Strauss was on 15 (Final Score = 45)
Mohammad Amir to Strauss, no run, 136.0 kph, dropped! Kamran, what have you done? Perfect outswinger from Aamer, Strauss edges and Akmal puts down the simplest of chances. Kamran kept so well against Australia – relatively speaking, anyway – but this is the worst possible start for him against England
22.4 Collingwood was on 0 (Final Score = 1)
Umar Gul to Collingwood, no run, 142.1 kph, oh no! Kamran has gone from hero back to zero! Dropped! After just pulling off a stunner he’s put Collingwood down first ball, it was wide, Collingwood flashed a cut and edges it towards first slip, Akmal flew across and dropped the chance
Pakistan in England Test Series – 3rd Test
England v Pakistan


37.3 MJ Prior was on 29 (Final Score = 84*)
Mohammad Asif to Prior, 4 leg byes, 128.9 kph, and that one’s dropped, but a very tough chance for Kamran. You can’t expect him to take that – it’s an inside edge onto the thigh and then sneaking past the stumps, Kamran dives and just gets his left fingertip to the ball as it runs away towards fine leg for a boundary
Steve Davis has called that leg byes, but there was an inside edge on it, no question
Pakistan in England Test Series – 4th Test
England v Pakistan


115.3 Broad was on 132 (Final Score = 169)
Saeed Ajmal to Broad, no run, 94.6 kph, dropped a beauty…he played forward again and it grazes the outside edge but Kamran Akmal can’t hold on. There was very little reaction from the players

India in Pakistan ODI Series – 3rd ODI


15.1 Tendulkar was on 36 (Final Score = 95)
Umar Gul to Tendulkar, no run, down the leg side, Tendulkar gets an edge, fielded by Akmal, who drops the catch.
Pakistan in Sri Lanka ODI Series – 3rd ODI


10.1 Tharanga was on 19 (Final Score = 23)
Abdul Razzaq to Tharanga, 2 runs, dropped! good ball first up, bit of movement, pushes with an open face, gets an edge, Akmal dives to his left and fails to hold on to the chance.
NatWest Series [Pakistan in England] – 2nd match


6.3 Ian Bell wan on 8 (Final Score = 9)
Shoaib Akhtar to Bell, 1 leg bye, wow, that was quick and full on off, Bell drives but is beaten all ends up, ball brushes something but Akmal fails to collect it to his left, ball runs away and they steal one, umpire calls it leg byes, was there bat on that though? Looks like it, according to the replays

6.6 Trescothick was on 6 (Final Score = 6)
Shoaib Akhtar to Trescothick, no run, good length ball on off, Tresco stands tall and drives but makes zero contact, a tight over coming to and end, should have had Bell but Akmal dropped another catch to add to his summer’s tally of non-takes
ICC World Cup – 1st match, Group D



38.3 Lara was on 28 (Final Score = 37)
Shoaib Malik to Lara, no run, ooh, ooh. Interesting. Malik annoyed that Akmal failed to pouch that one, dropping the fine edge. Akmal’s glovework leaving much to be desired as is, sadly, often the case
Warid Cricket Series – 2nd ODI



4.2 Kapugedera was on 19 (Final Score 20)
Mohammad Asif to Kapugedera, 1 run, dropped! He chases a short delivery outside off stump, gets the nick, and Akmal drops a simple take behind the stumps…poor stuff from him
South Africa in Pakistan ODI Series – 3rd ODI


22.3 Smith was on 24 (Final Score = 48)
Shahid Afridi to Smith, no run, dropped by Akmal. It was a googly outside off stump, Smith stabbed at it and edged it to Akmal who fails to hold on. The ball pops up and it falls between a lunging Akmal and Younis at first slip.

32.1 Smith was on 48 (Final Score = 48)
Abdur Rehman to Smith, 1 run, dropped,though it was tough. Tossed up wide, Smith gets across off and plays at it, getting a thick edge which Akmal doesnt read, and the ball clips his pad to run fine
South Africa in Pakistan ODI Series – 4th ODI


29.2 Pollock was on 61 (Final Score = 90)
Abdur Rehman to Pollock, 1 run, oh ho! Full and flat on leg stump, Pollock gets forward and paddles it up in air, Akmal turns and stumbles and doesnt make any effort to dive for the catch … sums up Pakistan’s evening

South Africa in Pakistan ODI Series – 5th ODI


2.3 Kallia was on 6 (Final Score = 86)
Shoaib Akhtar to Kallis, no run, dropped, Akmal drops an absolute sitter, this one was a touch fuller, it pitched on a good length and drew Kallis forward, the ball kissed the outside edge and flew at an easy height straight to Akmal who couldn’t take it cleanly, Kallis has had a poor ODI series so far and Pakistan could have had him cheaply once again
Pakistan in India ODI Series – 1st ODI


6.1 Gambhir was on 7 (Final Score = 44)
Shoaib Akhtar to Gambhir, FOUR, dropped, by either Akmal or Younis, Gambhir pushed tentatively away from his body at a good length delivery outside off stump and got a regulation edge that flew between the wicketkeeper and first slip, neither Akmal or Younis moved an inch

14.5 Ganguly was on 37 (Final Score = 39)
Shahid Afridi to Ganguly, no run, dropped, Ganguly tries to run the ball to third man and got a faint edge to Akmal, the ball hit the gloves and rolled towards third man, Gambhir came half-way down the pitch from the non-striker’s end but was sent back by Ganguly, that’s the third catch Pakistan have grassed

Pakistan in India ODI Series – 2nd ODI


13.4 Gambhir was on 17 (Final Score = 57)
Iftikhar Anjum to Gambhir, 1 run, Dropped by Akmal. It was full in length, outside off stump, Gambhir drives on the up and gets a edge which flies low and just in front of Akmal who couldn’t quite wrap his gloves under the ball
Pakistan in India ODI Series – 3rd ODI


0.1 Ganguly was on 0 (Final Score = 39)
Shoaib Akhtar to Ganguly, no run, Dropped! Would you believe it? Kamran Akmal drops a regulation ‘keeper catch. It was full in length, outside off stump and Ganguly had a poke at it with an open-face of the bat. Sure, the ball was dipping as it went to the left of Akmal but he should have held it. What a start. Hold your mails. We know many of you don’t rate Akmal much.
Bangladesh in Pakistan ODI Series – 2nd ODI


32.5 Mahmudullah was on 14 (Final Score = 58*)
Shoaib Malik to Mahmudullah, no run, spins down the leg side and the Akmal misses a good stumping chance as the batsman came down the track.

Bangladesh in Pakistan ODI Series – 3rd ODI


36.2 Shakib Al Hasan was on 35 (Final Score = 75)
Sohail Khan to Shakib Al Hasan, 1 run, dropped! Outside the off stump and Shakib Al Hasan drives, gets the outside edge to Akmal behind the wicket, who dives low to his right and drops the ball. That should have been taken

Kitply Cup – 1st match



33.5 Abdur Razzak was on 0 (Final Score = 26*)
Umar Gul to Abdur Razzak, FOUR, Dropped by Akmal. well he didn’t even reach it. He should have as it wasn’t too far to his left. Gul had produced a jab and a edge wit ha delivery that straightened outside off stump from round the stumps and Akmal was late in reacting

Pakistan v West Indies ODI Series – 1st ODI



39.5 Marshall was on 2 (Final Score = 26)
Shahid Afridi to Marshall, no run, dropped, that was short of a good length outside off, Marshall gets onto the back foot to punch it wide of the covers, gets an outside edge and Akmal spills a regulation chance!!

Pakistan v West Indies ODI Series – 2nd ODI



30.4 Findlay was on 0 (Final Score = 12)
Shahid Afridi to Findlay, no run, dropped, that was an off spinner pitching on off, Findlay lunges forward to defend, gets a thick outside edge that Akmal puts down

Sri Lanka in Pakistan ODI Series – 2nd ODI



19.1 Kandamby was on 16 (Final Score = 59)
Shahid Afridi to Kandamby, no run, dropped, quicker ball that spun away sharply after landing on the off stump, tries to defend off the back foot, gets a thick outside edge and Akmal puts it down behind the wickets. Straightforward
Sri Lanka in Pakistan ODI Series – 3rd ODI


40.4 Kndamby was on 28 (Final Score = 32)
Shoaib Malik to Kandamby, no run, missed stumping, Pakistan have been poor, flighted outside off inviting Kandamby out of the crease, he goes for a loft over extra cover but the ball spins away, he misses and so does Kamran Akmal who makes a mess of it behind the stumps

Pakistan in Sri Lanka ODI Series – 1st ODI



1.1 Jayasuriya was on 1 (Final Score = 15)
Abdul Razzaq to Jayasuriya, no run, dropped, again on the leg stump, it goes down the leg side, Akmal has to dive low to his right to take that, he fails to collect it, and his reaction suggests Jayasuriya had edged that
ICC Champions Trophy – 6th match, Group A



22.3 Dhoni was on 0 (Final Score = 3)
Saeed Ajmal to Dhoni, no run, Dropped by Akmal. Tough chance. T’was a topspinner outside off stump, Dhoni tries to cover drive, edges and it deflects to Akmal’s right pad
Asia Cup – 4th match

36.6 Sharma was on 9 (Final Score = 22)
Shoaib Akhtar to Sharma, 1 run, all night Akmal has been appealing without any edges, now he gets a regulation edge and he drops it! Poor keeping really! Beats me how this man is keeping in international cricket! Sharma goes chasing, edged away slightly wide of him, he sticks out one firm hand and it bounces off it. Really didn’t have to go too far
Asia Cup – 1st match



2.5 Dilshan was on 12 (Final Score = 18)
Shoaib Akhtar to Dilshan, FOUR, Edged between the keeper and the first slip. It pitched well ahead of the cordon and rolled away. It was around 145 kmph back-of-length delivery and Dilshan went for the cut and edged. Kamran dived but couldn’t reach in time
8.4 Jayawardene was on 0 (Final Score = 54)
Mohammad Asif to Jayawardene, FOUR, Edged but Kamran couldn’t get to it. It was a lovely leg cutter around off – a classic Asif delivery – and Mahela had a lame poke at it,. Almost fatal. The gap between the keeper and slip was wide and Kamran dived but couldn’t reach

41.2 Kulasekara was on 5 (Final Score = 14)
Shahid Afridi to Kulasekara, 1 wide, Stumping chance missed. Not a surprise if you have followed Kamran’s career. It was down the leg side and Kula had leaned forward to flick and lost balance and had stepped well out of the crease. But Kamran doesn’t collect it cleanly. Oh well
Asia Cup – 5th match


43.2 Shkib ul Hassan was on 2 (Final Score = 25)
Abdur Rehman to Shakib Al Hasan, 3 runs, thank God for some constants in life! Kamran Akmal has dropped one! Difficult edge, though, a thick one and a decent deflection. But thankfully some things never change
NatWest Series [Pakistan in England] – 3rd ODI


18.5 Yardy was on 0 (Final Score = 4)
Umar Gul to Yardy, 1 run, Kamran Akmal drops it! Calamity Kamran strikes again! Gul finds a thickish outside edge that goes low and wide to Kamran, diving one-handed to his left and he couldn’t quite hold on. Looks to have damaged his finger as well
Pakistan in New Zealand ODI Series – 5th ODI


44.1 NL McCullum was on 4 (Final Score = 14)
Wahab Riaz to NL McCullum, 1 run, somethings in Pakistan cricket never change. Like the fact that inevitably, Kamran Akmal will drop a catch. He’s done it again. Short ball, Nathan gets a top edge behind his head and it was a dolly for Kamran who was moving back. And he put it down.
ICC Cricket World Cup – 10th match, Group A


30.1 Sangakkara was on 22 (Final Score = 49)
Abdur Rehman to Sangakkara, 5 wides, Kamran fluffs a stumping, all is well with the world, Rehman beat Sanga with some flight, and angling it down the leg side, he got some extra bounce again, which beat Kamran totally, Sanga was in no position to get back
34.6 Sangakkara was on 33 (Final Score = 49)
Abdur Rehman to Sangakkara, 1 wide, Kamran, oh Kamran. Another fluffed stumping. Same as before, Sanga jumps out a mile looking to flick. Rehman sees him and fires it wide, Sanga misses and is halfway down the track. Kamran whips the bails off. Find the missing link – yes, Kamran did not collect. I now know the only weak link in Pakistan’s side. It is behind the stumps.
ICC Cricket World Cup – 17th match, Group A


3.1 Gunasekera was on 8 (Final Score = 8)
Umar Gul to Gunasekera, no run, dropped by Kamran or did it go off the back thigh? It cut across from the leg stump line, went right across the batsman who was squared-up in defense. the ball flew to left of Akmal, who was initially moving to his right. He then threw a big dive with outstretched left hand but couldn’t hold on. Replays don’t confirm an edge. It seems it went off the thigh.
ICC Cricket World Cup – 24th match, Group A



13.2 Taylor was on 0 (Final Score = 131*)
Shoaib Akhtar to Taylor, FOUR, Ross gets a birthday gift, it’s the Kamran moment, Shoaib got the edge with a perfect delivery that zipped away just a shade, the ball flew between younis and Kamran, who initially appeared to go for it, and then did the keeper’s version of shouldering arms, stood stone still, as a bemused Younis looked on

13.4 Taylor was on 8 (Final Score = 131*)
Shoaib Akhtar to Taylor, no run, oh I don’t believe this, two birthday gifts is too much, from the same man too, Shoaib has Ross pushing at a one that held its line,and the healthy edge goes ever so slowly to Kamran who is in good position to take it, gets gloves on it, and clangs it, Shoaib can’t do anything about it, boy is he distraught
30.4 Styris was on 4 (Final Score = 28)
Shahid Afridi to Styris, 1 run, another drop from Kamran, outside off, Styris looks to stab it from the crease, edged and Kamran’s horror day continues, Afridi is not amused
Pakistan Vs England, Trent Bridge, 2010.
63)
70.2 Collingwood was on 48(Final Score = 82)
Danish Kaneria to Collingwood, no run, missed stumping! Kamran’s really not having a good day… Collingwood charged down the track, was beaten in the air and by the turn. He was practically walking off he was so far down, but Kamran fumbled the take, and couldn’t pick the ball up before the batsman got back in. Kaneria really needed that wicket – Pakistan needed it!
Pakistan Vs England, Oval, 2006.
64)
40.3 Mahmood was on 0 (Final Score = 15)
Danish Kaneria to Mahmood, 4 byes, ah, should have been out. Mahmood came down the wicket aiming to hoick that over mid-on; instead he completely missed it and should have been stumped by yards but Akmal didn’t even move and the ball flew past his gloves really easily
Pakistan in South Africa Test Series – 2nd Test

65) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250666.html?innings=3;page=1;view=commentary
40.4 Prince was on 17 (Final Score = 22)
Danish Kaneria to Prince, no run, stumping chance missed! A lovely teasing flighted delivery, again Prince comes down the track and is beaten by the flight and the dip. The ball threads through the bat and pad gap and is just outside off stump and Akmal clangs it. Would have been definitely out had he gathered.
Sri Lanka in Pakistan ODI Series – 2nd ODI


34.2 Jayawardena was on 5 (Final Score = 24)
Shahid Afridi to Jayawardene, no run, went through him! Kept low there, pitched on a good length outside off, just fractionally wide of the off stump, and spun away, Mahela failed to get his bat down in time and the ball clipped his back pad on the way to the keeper. Replays indicate there was an inside edge, but a really tough chance there for the keeper.
Pakistan v West Indies ODI Series – 3rd ODI


15.2 Gayle was on 34 (Final Score = 122)
Saeed Ajmal to Gayle, no run, looks like an edge and Kamran up to the mark (his own) dropped it
Pakistan in India Test Series – 3rd Test


118.6 Pathan was on 23 (Final Score = 102)
Danish Kaneria to Pathan, no run, fullish and outside the off, played at with hard hands, the ball slips past bat, the reactions from Akmal, who gloves the ball to the floor, and the bowler, suggest that there might have been an edge to that
Pakistan in Australia Test Series – 1st Test


74.6 Ponting was on 30 (Final Score = 57)
Mohammad Asif to Ponting, no run, forward with bat and pad to a good delivery that nips through the batsman’s defence, if he nicked it it was of no consequence since Kamran Akmal failed to take it cleanly
Replays suggest Ponting probably got an inside edge. So perhaps we can put that one down as a drop to Kamran Akmal.
NatWest Series [Pakistan in England] – 2nd ODI


40.6 Morgan was on 1 (Final Score = 16)
Mohammad Hafeez to Morgan, no run, edged, and dropped by Kamran! It was a really thick edge and a big deflection as Morgan tried to cut, the keeper did well to even get a glove to that
Bangladesh in Pakistan ODI Series – 5th ODI


25.3 Dhiman Gosh was on 21 (Final Score = 29)
Shahid Afridi to Dhiman Ghosh, no run, uses his feet and looks to work it through the onside, misses it and Akmal misses a stumping chance.
NatWest Series [Pakistan in England] – 2nd match


32.3 Read was on 12 (Final Score = 30)
Shahid Afridi to Read, 1 wide, fired down the leg, batsman out of his crease but Akmal snuffles a take, Afridi not happy
Pakistan in England T20I Match

11.5 Trescothick was on 46 (Final Score = 53)
Shahid Afridi to Trescothick, no run, ooh, he nicked that one off the back foot but Akmal fluffed it
Pakistan in South Africa T20I Match

8.6 Bosman was on 45 (Final Score = 53*)
Abdur Rehman to Bosman, 1 run, DROPPED! swung down to long on, what a mess by the man on the fence – Akmal of all people! – and Bosman gets a life
ICC World Twenty20 – 18th match, Group F

6.4 Ponting was on (Final Score = 27)
Shahid Afridi to Ponting, FOUR, Ponting tries to pull a ball that pitches on middle stump and spins across him, he gets a bottom edge which goes between Akmal’s legs for a boundary
8.4 Ponting was on 19 (Final Score = 27)
Shahid Afridi to Ponting, 1 bye, Ponting comes down the pitch, Afridi beats him with a quicker ball but Akmal misses a stumping chance
ICC World Twenty20 2007 – 1st semi final

19.6 Taylor was on 36 (Final Score = 37*)
Mohammad Asif to Taylor, 1 run, low full toss pulled high in the air off the bottom of the bat and that’s a poor piece of keeping from Akmal who calls for it… and then fluffs it. That may be amusing, but let’s hope for his sake that it doesn’t come down to a run…
ICC World Twenty20 2009 – 1st semi final

8.2 AB de Villiers ws on 1 (Final Score = 1)
Shahid Afridi to de Villiers, no run, dropped by Akmal. Lovely ripping leg break turning from the off stump line, AB pushed hard at it, got the thick edge and Akmal couldn’t hold on to slightly difficult chance
ICC World Twenty20 2010 – 4th match, Group A

6.5 Mohammad Ashraful was on 11 (Final Score = 65)
Abdul Razzaq to Mohammad Ashraful, FOUR, educated edge just wide of the keeper Akmal, who put a surprisingly low-key effort. A big dive was possibly in order, but it ran away for four
7.1 Shakib Al Hasan was on 7 (Final Score = 47)
Mohammad Hafeez to Shakib Al Hasan, no run, was that a drop from Kamran? short of a length, Shakib can’t connect with the flick but possibly got a thick inside edge, and Kamran put it down
15.4 Mahmudullah was on 0 (Final Score = 0)
Mohammad Sami to Mahmudullah, no run, dropped by Kamran Akmal! Thickish inside edge that darted in, and Kamran had to regroup and dive to his left. In the end, he did well to stop what would have been a sure four
ICC World Twenty20 2010 – 21st match, Group E

14.2 AB de Villiers was on 34 (Final Score = 53)
Abdur Rehman to de Villiers, no run, goes for the sweep shot, it bounces over the middle stump line and Akmal doesn’t collect it cleanly. Was there an edge? The replays aren’t conclusive. BAd angles basically
Pakistan in England T20I Series – 1st T20I

12.2 Yardy was on 13 (Final Score = 35)
Saeed Ajmal to Yardy, 2 runs, dropped by Kamran, tough chance as it flicked the edge, Kamran didn’t even get a hand on it, it just flicked the edge and went off his knee
Posted by ADMIN at 12:04 AM
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