"My age shouldn't be a problem if I perform, with the examples set by Misbah, Younis" : Kamran Akmal

[Abdullah719]

"My age shouldn't be a problem if I perform, with the examples set by Misbah, Younis" : Kamran Akmal

Recently concluded Pakistan Super League’s player of the tournament Kamran Akmal has asked the selection committee to consider him solely on his batting performance and not as a competition for limited-overs captain Sarfraz Ahmed.

“I am not contending for the wicket-keeping slot with Sarfraz,” said the eldest of the three Akmal brothers while addressing the press. “I want to be considered on my batting ability alone.”

Akmal, who has been selected in the 25-member training camp for the tour of the West Indies, thanked the selectors but does feel that too much trust for in the past three years has put the team in a tight spot.

“There should be a blend of seniors and juniors,” said Akmal. “Too much experimentation is why we have slumped to number eight in ODI rankings.”

He, however, welcomed the current regime’s decision to include him in the training camp and vowed to repay their faith.

“I will answer my critics in the only way I know: through my hard work and performances,” said the 35-year-old. “I am not disappointed for being out of the team for so long. My age shouldn’t be a problem either as long as I perform and with the examples set by veterans such as Misbahul Haq and Younus Khan.”

While the PSL may have been a huge success, Akmal feels that an overabundance of T20 cricket at domestic cricket is proving to be counterproductive.

“Club cricket is dying because of T20 cricket,” said Akmal. “If we want to improve the overall level of cricket we have to invest in domestic circuit. T20 is not going to help you with that. Look at what has happened in the recent past. We have stopped producing world class talent. Muhammad Amir is the last of that breed.”

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1347687/kamran-akmal-not-competing-sarfraz-ahmed/

 

[MRSN]

exactly. If Misbah can play at the age of 43 nonofficial 47 with average performances then why not Kami at the age of 35 when he is on song.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

Looks like Misbah has made a trend for old players to play longer. Thank you Misbah

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

exactly. If Misbah can play at the age of 43 nonofficial 47 with average performances then why not Kami at the age of 35 when he is on song.

He really is an inspiration if he is 47 unofficially.

 

[saeed5646]

exactly. If Misbah can play at the age of 43 nonofficial 47 with average performances then why not Kami at the age of 35 when he is on song.

bro u will have your answer when kami play odi format he is unfit and will expose during west indies series

but agree with you that misbah have started very bad trend of age which will hurt our team

 

[TahirFan]

Misbah may be the oldest player in the Pakistani side but he is also seems to be the fittest

Age does not matter. You just have to watch Roger Federer

 

[adil_909]

If Misbah's legacy is one in which performance and fitness are valued over things like age, name of father, province of origin, then he will have done wonders to helping take Pakistan cricket into modern times.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Oh Lord help us please.

 

[MRSN]

If Misbah's legacy is one in which performance and fitness are valued over things like age, name of father, province of origin, then he will have done wonders to helping take Pakistan cricket into modern times.

Misbah's legacy is of a guy who averaged in the 20s in SL,SA,Aus,NZ,England, a guy who was nothing more than an ftb and who got the most no. of losses from any Asian captain overseas ,an ODI captain whose strike rate was in the 60s entire his five years captaincy,and the guy who championed for ttfs and ridiculed the youngsters when he had the powers. Ask Haris Sohail,Baber Azam,Umar Akmal,Umar Amin and other youngsters. I remember a guy who was in our squad after all the hard work he had done in the domestic cricket and he was dropped from the squad after given only one game. something like Ayub?
Haris got the same treatment and Umar as well. Misbah championed glorified ttfs even in ODIs like Asad,YK,Junaid,Anwar Ali,Sohail tanvir.

 

[Slog]

Misbah is fitter at 43 than Kamran's ever been...

 

[Hawkeye]

If someone could be as fit and great at cricket at 43, he can play.

In fact, it's a great inspiration for our folks to take up fitness seriously. If you're fit and performing, you deserve to play.

Don't let the haters distract you.

 

[Madplayer]

I am confused about who to blame for this. Misbah himself because of him milking the cow dry or the inept people who didn't have the courage to replace him in time (especially in LOIs).

 

[waleed88]

Recently concluded Pakistan Super League’s player of the tournament Kamran Akmal has asked the selection committee to consider him solely on his batting performance and not as a competition for limited-overs captain Sarfraz Ahmed.

“I am not contending for the wicket-keeping slot with Sarfraz,” said the eldest of the three Akmal brothers while addressing the press. “I want to be considered on my batting ability alone.”

Akmal, who has been selected in the 25-member training camp for the tour of the West Indies, thanked the selectors but does feel that too much trust for in the past three years has put the team in a tight spot.

“There should be a blend of seniors and juniors,” said Akmal. “Too much experimentation is why we have slumped to number eight in ODI rankings.”

He, however, welcomed the current regime’s decision to include him in the training camp and vowed to repay their faith.

“I will answer my critics in the only way I know: through my hard work and performances,” said the 35-year-old. “I am not disappointed for being out of the team for so long. My age shouldn’t be a problem either as long as I perform and with the examples set by veterans such as Misbahul Haq and Younus Khan.”

While the PSL may have been a huge success, Akmal feels that an overabundance of T20 cricket at domestic cricket is proving to be counterproductive.

“Club cricket is dying because of T20 cricket,” said Akmal. “If we want to improve the overall level of cricket we have to invest in domestic circuit. T20 is not going to help you with that. Look at what has happened in the recent past. We have stopped producing world class talent. Muhammad Amir is the last of that breed.”

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1347687/kamran-akmal-not-competing-sarfraz-ahmed/

He has a valid arguement, Misbah and Younis's age will always be brought up by players who are branded TTF's, as now it gives them a valid reason to give their defence whenever they say they should retire...

Misbah has played a big role in giving these players the excuse after he made himself the exception...

This prolonged stay by Misbah will have long term effects on Pak cricket... with plenty of 40 year old players wanting to be included in the side in the future

 

[MenInG]

Sure Kamran bro - remember you are not Misbah or YK, best to get in there and do your job and get runs.

 

[waleed88]

This is the problem, we have always used exceptions in our cricket.. made them greats, and what follows are players who are asking to be treated similarly to what 'those exceptions' were..

Shoaib Akhtar made it fancy for unfit players to play in the side... even if you can't walk for 3 days after bowling.. but you can bowl phaaast.. you will be given a free run in the side.. result is in the future we played bowlers like Tanvir Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Khan who were 'poor fielders' but excpetional match winners who can win you games

Inzi bhai being overweight was always a sub par fielder, but he was 'an exceptional match winner' so he was always allowed to continue, the trend still follows in our cricket with Shahzaib Hassan, Sharjeel Khan, Nasir Jamshed, Khalid Latif, and our very own uber talented Junior Akmal playing for Pakistan despite having a pott belly..

Then you have exceptions like Afridi, who slog every ball... but are exceptions because they can win you matches 'single handedly.' result was we still producing hacks like Mukhtar Ahmed, Awais Zia, Shahzaib Hassan, Imran Nazir given the chance at the top because they play the Afridi way and our aggressive..

Misbah bhai has made another exception trend... that even if you are 43 you can carry on playing for Pakistan... no age is a cutt-off, hence all 40 year olds of this era should be still in with a chance.. this gives extra incentive for players like Kami, Malik, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal and many more to play the victim card

 

[Major]

yeh right, ab misbah yaad ajata hai

after Kamran retires, wait for him 1-2 years till he makes an appearance on tv and says he is against oldies in the team.


Also, Misbah and Younis have fitness, something which Kamran lacks

 

[F0ulu]

Good grief!!
Examples set by Misbah seriously make Afridi look good. The guy that we criticize day in and night out retired from all cricket formats at 37 years of age. And Kami at nearly this age is now making a comeback, thinking he still has 8 years of cricket left in him cuz Misbah who is 43 is still good to go

 

[Mamoon]

Misbah has set a wrong precedence for Pakistani players. Every Tom, Dick and Harry now thinks that he can play till he is 50. Not everyone can a Misbah, especially not a WK.

I'm happy to have Kamran in the team till 2019/2020, but not beyond that even if he is performing.

 

[MRSN]

yeh right, ab misbah yaad ajata hai

after Kamran retires, wait for him 1-2 years till he makes an appearance on tv and says he is against oldies in the team.


Also, Misbah and Younis have fitness, something which Kamran lacks

what fitness? the guy doesn't chase the ball since 2015 world cup.

 

[Pete Rose]

He is pretty fat like his brother. And no he is not very good

 

[Zohaib Shah]

I don't know what people see in Kami? Each time he batted in the PSL he looked like he was going to get out to any ball. He will be a big flop in international cricket.

 

[Cricket lover 27]

People have a memory of a goldfish...and no he does not deserve a recall even if he bats like a Bradman in domestics....he is in the wrong side of his 30's...people are sulking on Misbah not retiring and on the other hand want him back in the team!!!

 

[Junaids]

Let's be clear what the benchmark is.

1. Misbah hasn't reached a score of 40 in any of his last 5 away Tests.

2. Younis hasn't reached a score of 40 in 6 of his last 9 away Tests.

Misbah and Younis aren't just ridiculously old. They fail almost all the time.

 

[shariqnoor]

Another thread where the inevitable blame lies on Misbah and Younis.

“I will answer my critics in the only way I know: through my hard work and performances,” said the 35-year-old. “I am not disappointed for being out of the team for so long. My age shouldn’t be a problem either as long as I perform and with the examples set by veterans such as Misbahul Haq and Younus Khan.”

There's nothing wrong in what Kamran said there. He mentioned hard work and performances and that's what required. Age is a futile issue that PPers bring up endlessly. It's shameful that the two fittest members of our team are Younis and Misbah. You know people have a terrible mindset of cricket when they prefer age over fitness. Thank God Tendulkar wasn't a Pakistani. He was 40 closing in on 41 when he retired. Maybe was 45 who knows. (PPers logic).

Kamran is 35. He can easily play till 39 if he performs and maintains his fitness. People have no issues with Shoaib Malik in the team but are unhappy about Kamran saying age is not an issue. Double standards right there.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Old or not. Kamran deserves to be in the team solely on the basis of this PSL, even if he had averaged 0 in the first class tournament. I don't understand PP's obsession with age. Would you rather play an older player and WIN a game or two when you REALLY, REALLY need to in order to qualify for the World Cup or play a younger player in hopes of having him majestically turn into Virat Kohli by the time of the WC and lose these matches and end up not even qualifying. Pathetic.

 

[shariqnoor]

Old or not. Kamran deserves to be in the team solely on the basis of this PSL, even if he had averaged 0 in the first class tournament. I don't understand PP's obsession with age. Would you rather play an older player and WIN a game or two when you REALLY, REALLY need to in order to qualify for the World Cup or play a younger player in hopes of having him majestically turn into Virat Kohli by the time of the WC and lose these matches and end up not even qualifying. Pathetic.

What can I say. You can't argue with walls. Kamran has been our best performer in the domestic system for the past 2 years. He deserves to be in the team. If you're not going to reward someone who is your best player in the domestic, then you might as well scrap domestics. Or if you are not going to pick 35 year olds then please retire everyone forcefully who's 35 and older.

 

[ExpressPacer]

What can I say. You can't argue with walls. Kamran has been our best performer in the domestic system for the past 2 years. He deserves to be in the team. If you're not going to reward someone who is your best player in the domestic, then you might as well scrap domestics. Or if you are not going to pick 35 year olds then please retire everyone forcefully who's 35 and older.

Exactly. Kamran has always been hard done by. He is a powerhitter, yes, but he deserves to bat higher up the order and he categorically mentioned that his success is owed to the Zalmi management for letting him bat opener or one down.

I'm optimistic he will be picked, at least for T20i's, now that both Latif and Sharjeel are unavailable.

Honestly, there are so many spots for batsmen in the ODI team even. Sharjeel (if he's fixed), Azhar, Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Rizwan and even Malik if he stops performing.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Old or not. Kamran deserves to be in the team solely on the basis of this PSL, even if he had averaged 0 in the first class tournament. I don't understand PP's obsession with age. Would you rather play an older player and WIN a game or two when you REALLY, REALLY need to in order to qualify for the World Cup or play a younger player in hopes of having him majestically turn into Virat Kohli by the time of the WC and lose these matches and end up not even qualifying. Pathetic.

What can I say. You can't argue with walls. Kamran has been our best performer in the domestic system for the past 2 years. He deserves to be in the team. If you're not going to reward someone who is your best player in the domestic, then you might as well scrap domestics. Or if you are not going to pick 35 year olds then please retire everyone forcefully who's 35 and older.

Exactly. Kamran has always been hard done by. He is a powerhitter, yes, but he deserves to bat higher up the order and he categorically mentioned that his success is owed to the Zalmi management for letting him bat opener or one down.

I'm optimistic he will be picked, at least for T20i's, now that both Latif and Sharjeel are unavailable.

Honestly, there are so many spots for batsmen in the ODI team even. Sharjeel (if he's fixed), Azhar, Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Rizwan and even Malik if he stops performing.

Does it not bother you that even in his prime he didn't average more than 26.

Same as Tatenda Taibu and 3 points more than the hack Shahid Afridi?

I am all for giving performing players a chance.

But where do you draw the line?

When does a player become a tried and tested failure at international level?

Or does he just get repeat chances because of a cut shot that we want to salivate over, no matter how infrequently it is successful?

The problem with Pakistan is not with the cricketers.

I think the fans are also plagued by the belief that oldies are the best players and no amount of failures will convince them, they are not cut at the highest format of the game.

 

[shariqnoor]

Does it not bother you that even in his prime he didn't average more than 26.

Same as Tatenda Taibu and 3 points more than the hack Shahid Afridi?

I am all for giving performing players a chance.

But where do you draw the line?

When does a player become a tried and tested failure at international level?

Or does he just get repeat chances because of a cut shot that we want to salivate over, no matter how infrequently it is successful?

The problem with Pakistan is not with the cricketers.

I think the fans are also plagued by the belief that oldies are the best players and no amount of failures will convince them, they are not cut at the highest format of the game.

So what should a player do then? When he fails at the international level, you are the guys who tell them to go back to the domestic and score runs. When they do score runs, then you put up their international level record and say "hey you were a tried and tested failure at the international level so don't come back". Pathetic reasoning.

Why were Matty Hayden and Justin Langer recalled to the Australian team? Australian selectors should have just showed their pathetic record at the international level in the early 90's and said "bro, you are a certified TTF. No comeback for you."

 

[Dr_Bassim]

So what should a player do then? When he fails at the international level, you are the guys who tell them to go back to the domestic and score runs. When they do score runs, then you put up their international level record and say "hey you were a tried and tested failure at the international level so don't come back". Pathetic reasoning.

Why were Matty Hayden and Justin Langer recalled to the Australian team? Australian selectors should have just showed their pathetic record at the international level in the early 90's and said "bro, you are a certified TTF. No comeback for you."

How many bites at the cherry did Hayden and Langer get though?

How many does Kamran deserve?

As I said, your reasoning means that a player can be tried again and again and again despite failing in international cricket.

We already have someone who played for 20 years despite failing again and again.

Now we have another one who is playing despite failing for 8 years because of so called talent.

You want to add a 3rd?

Be my guest.

But don't be surprised when he edges one to the keeper trying to play his cut shot and you start swearing at him for being a complete and inept failure.

 

[shariqnoor]

How many bites at the cherry did Hayden and Langer get though?

How many does Kamran deserve?

As I said, your reasoning means that a player can be tried again and again and again despite failing in international cricket.

We already have someone who played for 20 years despite failing again and again.

Now we have another one who is playing despite failing for 8 years because of so called talent.

You want to add a 3rd?

Be my guest.

But don't be surprised when he edges one to the keeper trying to play his cut shot and you start swearing at him for being a complete and inept failure.

When the criteria for selection is the domestic cricket, then yes whoever scores in the domestic deserves to have a chance at selection. I'm not saying that selecting Kamran would mean that he will score a century every 3-4 matches. He may fail yet again but that's not the point of the debate. The point of the debate is that Kamran Akmal deserves to be selected based on his performances in the domestic. Failing or not failing is another debate which I'm not going into.

And if you're not going to select him for his domestic performances, then Kamran is right that selectors need to tell him that why he isn't being selected. If age is an issue then its a pretty lame excuse. If it's the fact that he has already been selected at the intl arena and hasn't really performed to expectations, then let him know. If he knows that the doors are closed, maybe he'll go abroad and earn more money rather than being stuck in the Pakistan domestic which pays very little. He has a right to earn his living too.

 

[Boxer]

Will surely be taking on the wicket keeper's gloves once he is back

 

[ExpressPacer]

Does it not bother you that even in his prime he didn't average more than 26.

Same as Tatenda Taibu and 3 points more than the hack Shahid Afridi?

I am all for giving performing players a chance.

But where do you draw the line?

When does a player become a tried and tested failure at international level?

Or does he just get repeat chances because of a cut shot that we want to salivate over, no matter how infrequently it is successful?

The problem with Pakistan is not with the cricketers.

I think the fans are also plagued by the belief that oldies are the best players and no amount of failures will convince them, they are not cut at the highest format of the game.

Do you realise what Attapatu averaged before being picked for the second time.. It wasn't even in the double figures. Or an even better example would be a debutant, he averages 0 in international cricket. THIS is Kamran Akmals REBIRTH. He is a different player now. He was never piling up runs the way he is right now in domestics.

 

[Abdullah719]

Do you realise what Attapatu averaged before being picked for the second time.. It wasn't even in the double figures. Or an even better example would be a debutant, he averages 0 in international cricket. THIS is Kamran Akmals REBIRTH. He is a different player now. He was never piling up runs the way he is right now in domestics.

You're talking about a handful of matches.

A debutant doesn't average 0 when he debuts, that would only be if he got out once already... for 0.

Kamran Akmal's international average of 26.85 is spread out over 261 matches!!!

 

[srh]

This PSL has caused more damage to pakistan hope of Excel in loi
first possible end of sharjeel
now comeback of damaged & thrown out product.

True. Kami using Misbah and YK as example is ridiculous though :faceapalm:

 

[Markhor]

We don't need to consider Kamran's domestic form given how abysmal his international scores were when he was recalled last time.

The sooner we move on from players like Kamran, Hafeez, Malik and Shehzad who epitomise our ODI decline of the 2010s the better.

 

[Ummii]

one of the most MAJOR problem of Pakistani cricketers that they don't think about themself but they think about others...Afridi thinks if Misbah can play so he can too..Malik thinks that he is younger than Afridi..Ahmed Shehzad always compare himself with others..Akmal thinks that he can be handy like Kohli