Out-of-favour Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has lashed out at the national selection committee after he was once again overlooked for the upcoming Bangladesh T20I series at home.
Akmal has been performing at his best in the domestic circuit for the last five years but he hasn't got recalled to the Pakistan squad and he was furious to have been left out of the T20 squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh starting in Lahore from January 24 to 27.
The veteran cricketer has insisted that he hasn’t lost hopes of his Pakistan comeback, but there is a “limit” while slamming former coach Mickey Arthur for bringing in the culture of fitness tests in the team to be get selected for the national team.
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Akmal told a Pakistan news channel, “I am not dishearted. But there is a limit. It has been five years. You have brought in a new system and claimed that cricket will be better. You claim that our best talent will come forward. Those who perform will be automatically selected. Should we go perform in the Indian or Australian system to get into the team?”
He further added, “We have been performing and suffering for five years. Who should we show our performance to? The prime minister? Who is going to check my performances in all formats? I am Pakistan’s player, I have been performing since 5 years, how much should I tolerate it? Should I go to the Prime Minister and say this is my performance for 5 years? If there’s someone who is playing ahead of me with fantastic performances, that’s fine. I said play me as a wicket-keeper if needed.”
Akmal further went on to claim that the national selectors were forcefully including players who did not deserve a spot in the side. He further explained, “In T20, there is a spot available but you are forcefully playing someone else. This is Pakistan’s team, keep Pakistan in front. If someone is performing, they should be picked. There are many players like me who are deserving, like Fawad Alam, look at his performances. I think his limit has also been reached.
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Am I talking without performances? There’s a World Cup coming up, I have performed in PSL, and in domestic in all formats and I am a top performer. Misbah should look at these things. Before this, what Mickey Arthur did with Pakistan’s cricket, everyone knows how much bad effects liking and disliking had. Misbah knows how much struggle he did himself and he got what he deserved, I think I should also get what I deserve.”
The Lahore-born player also asked did he deserve a spot in the team despite his stellar form in domestic cricket, saying: “By focusing on fitness and youngsters, we have taken our team to number 8. We don’t look at performance or skill anymore, domestic is not considered.”
He further added, “Since PSL started, people are selected after 1-2 innings, and not even big innings, 30s and 40s like Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Ahsan Ali. What is their performance? Ahsan Ali didn’t play even one match in division one in FC and you selected him. What is the criteria for selection?”
The wicketkeeper-batsman also believes that the national selectors should prioritize the skills of the players above fitness standards to national selection.
He continued, “Today India aren’t selecting Sanju Samson because he doesn’t perform in red ball cricket. They give importance to Ranji Trophy and then IPL. Fitness won’t come until you focus on skills. Skills bring fitness, everyone works hard during off season. Take fitness tests, but I think people know how to handle themselves. I have been playing for years and never h ad any fitness problems. We play club cricket during off season.”
Akmal signed off by saying, “These guys don’t even play in club cricket, how will they become fit? They need to make a policy that players who aren’t in the Pakistan team should play club matches, then we’ll see how professional they are. Yoyo and one km tests should be done but it shouldn’t be the policy for selection, that you will only be selected if you pass the test, skill should be the basis for selection.”
(With PakPassion Inputs)
