Kamran Akmal, the Pakistan wicketkeeper, has expressed his disappointment at being left out from the Test and ODI squads for the tour of Sri Lanka. Kamran was also sacked from the list of centrally contracted players last month.
“I am hurt and disappointed at not making the Pakistan squad for the Sri Lanka tour and also at not being given a central contract,” Kamran said. “They didn’t even invite me for the summer training camp.”
Kamran was part of Pakistan’s squad that played in the World T20s in Bangladesh. Tournament winners in 2009, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals. Kamran, who opened the innings during the competition, was dismissed for single-digit scores in three out of the four matches. However, he said that an extended run could have helped.
“It is not fair to judge a senior player without giving him a proper run. In the World T20 except for Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad which player performed well?” he asked.
“I can still give a lot to Pakistan and since I lost my place as a regular member of the side, I have gone back and performed in domestic cricket.”
Kamran last played a Test in 2010 and his last ODI was the Champions Trophy match against India in June 2013. He was brought back into the national team for the World T20s and made an encouraging start in the warm-up matches, scoring an unbeaten 52. But the form ran out as soon as the group stages kicked off. Kamran, however, was not satisfied with the treatment he has received from the home board.
“You only become a senior player after having played for a long time and performing well for the country. I just think it is not fair the way seniors are treated in Pakistan cricket because once they are mature it is the right time to make use of them.”