Akmal pleased to see cricket back in Pakistan
dubai — Peshawar Zalmi opener Kamran Akmal was pleased to see the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore and hoped that it will pave the way for regular cricket returning to Paksitan.
The PSL management and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been keen on staging the final in Pakistan and that moment has come with Peshawar Zalmi taking on the Quetta Gladiators at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday night.
Akmal, who scored the second century of the PSL and the first in this edition, was thrilled at the prospect of playing in the front of the Pakistani people, and said that it was a great honour and a great feeling.
“It is good news and we are very excited (to play the final in Lahore). Peshawar Zalmi has qualified for the final for the first time. Even if we hadn’t qualified and any other team had qualified, it would have been a great honour and a great feeling to see cricket back in Pakistan. So, it is a big achievement by PSL and the Board that the final is being held in Pakistan. And this could be the start of having the full PSL in Pakistan,” said Akmal.
Personally, Akmal has scored runs by the plentiful at the PSL and is the leading run-getter with 313 runs from 10 matches, with two 50s and a 100. Those knocks have included 26 boundaries and 15 sixes.
The 35-year-old had also scored 88 in the tournament opener against Islamabad United and he rated both the knocks highly.
“For me, whichever innings helps the team, win that is important. So, I’m happy about this innings as well as that innings because I had a momentum going and form was good in domestic cricket. And that probably showed. The team won. It was a pressure match for us because Karachi Kings are a big team, bowling wise and batting wise. It went till the end and it wasn’t an easy match. Even though some of their main players were out, the way Pollard and Gayle played, I think we bowled really well to defend that total,” he said.
It hasn’t been just the PSL where he has scored runs. Akmal has been in tremendous form on Pakistan’s domestic circuit, being amongst the top run-getters in all three formats. But a recall to the Pakistan team has been elusive so far.
Akmal again reitrated that it was left to the selectors and not in his hands. “I’ve been having hope (of playing for Pakistan) for the past two three years especially after the way I’ve been playing on the domestic circuit. But it is left to the selectors. I have said this before, my job is to show fitness and form and if God Almighty wishes and if my family’s prayers are answered, Inshallah, I will definitely play again (for Pakistan) ,” Akmal said.