"India's seniors groomed Kohli and Rohit; Pakistan needs similar system," says Kamran Akmal

Kamran Akmal is not happy with the way Pakistan cricket treats its senior cricketers.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma | GETTY

Pakistan's senior wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal credited Indian senior players for grooming talented players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Akmal feels such kind of support is missing in Pakistan cricket.

Kohli and Rohit, who are currently the two of the best batsmen in the world, have had their share of struggle too. But both managed to overcome them and shine under pressure, thanks to the guidance they received in the formative years in the team by the seniors.

Kamran feels India didn't remove senior cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virender Sehwag after the World Cup 2007 debacle. They used the seniors to aid the youngsters who were added to the team in the aftermath.

“Did India get rid of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, and Virender Sehwag after the 2007 [ODI] World Cup in the name of fast-tracking youngsters? All these great players stayed until they could help guide the next generation of Indian players and we are seeing the fruits of that policy today.

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"How else do you explain the top-rankings of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or even the success of a youngster like Lokesh Rahul,” Akmal said in an interview to PakPassion.net.

Akmal is unhappy with the way Pakistan cricket has treated senior cricketers.

“Contrast that to our planning which really is non-existent. In fact, our planning seems to be to make it impossible for decent players like Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Yousuf, and Abdul Razzaq to stay in the team all of whom had a few more years of cricket left in them at the time of their retirements."

Giving the example of Younis Khan, Kamran said lack of communication by the team management ruined Younis' career. 

“Even worse was the case of how Younis Khan was dealt with by creating uncertainty in his selection and not communicating plans with him properly, with the result that he was forced to leave the Pakistan side", Akmal added.

As per Kamran, Pakistan had experienced players but they were axed from the team before helping the budding young cricketers in the team.

“Had each of these players remained a few more years in the side, they would have helped groom the next generation of excellent cricketers for Pakistan.

"If things had been handled sensibly, Abdul Razzaq would have left behind an all-rounder in his mold, Shoaib Akhtar would have helped train quality pacers and we would have had a proper successor for Mohammad Yousuf as well,” Akmal said.

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 13 Sep, 2020

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