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Despite responding by scoring plenty of runs, Kamran Akmal is yet to find the answers. And the out-of-favour wicketkeeper-batsman this time has asked the Pakistan selectors directly for them.
Akmal has been overlooked despite scoring bucketful of runs on Pakistan's domestic circuit. He has also impressed in the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) with a scintillating 88 and 58 for his franchise, Peshawar Zalmi.
Akmal is clueless as to why he has been given the cold shoulder and said that the selectors are in best position to answer that.
"I don't know. The best answer can come from selectors. I have done so much so they are the ones who should answer. A batsman can only score runs and that I have done," said Akmal.
The 35-year-old said that he had ticked all the boxes, yet finds himself in the wilderness. And Akmal said that the selectors owe an explanation to not just him but others who have been scoring runs in domestic cricket.
"They also should tell the reason for not considering me. It's not just me but for all those who are playing and performing in domestic cricket. The only reason for not considering any player should be the fitness and performance. But I am doing everything to make a point for my selection.
Akmal has 3,168 runs from 154 ODIs with his highest being 124 against the West Indies in Brisbane in 2005. He last played an ODI against India in the ICC Champions Trophy in Birmingham in 2013. He had made 21.
His last T20 International was against the West Indies in the World Twenty20 in Dhaka in 2014, where he was out for nought. He has played 54 T20 Internationals scoring 897 runs, with his highest being 73.
He has also played 53 Tests.
Akmal also echoed what he had said a couple of weeks ago that it is possible to have more than one wicketkeeper in a team and he could play purely as a batsman.
"Some teams have three wicketkeepers playing and some are playing purely as a batsman. I have performed with the bat," he said.
Akmal also said that he still had a lot to give to Pakistan cricket. "I am trying to make comeback, that's why I am playing cricket. It's my passion to play for Pakistan and I still have four or five years of cricket left in me," Akmal said.
"It's disappointing as I am struggling at not getting a chance to make a comeback for the last three years. I have been doing all the hard work, scoring runs, there is no issue with my fitness. This is exactly what I have to do and I am doing well with it to stay relevant. The rest, the selectors and team management are in a better situation to speak about," he said.
james@khaleejtimes.com
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