‘I don't know why they discarded me all of a sudden after the T20 World Cup’
‘It is not fair to compare the performances or progress of Umar with Virat Kohli’
Out-of-favour Pakistan cricketers Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik minced no words in making it clear that they are not happy with the treatment meted out to them in recent times and said that the selectors and PCB need to have better communication with the senior players.
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In separate talks with the media at Karachi's national stadium where the Pentangular one-day Cup is in progress, both the players who are now in the run to be recalled for the World Cup said it was their ambition to represent Pakistan in the mega event.
"I don't want to comment on our chances in the World Cup until I am selected. But honestly speaking I still don't know why they discarded me all of a sudden after the T20 World Cup. I was not even considered good enough to the make the pool of 40 players which was very disappointing," Kamran said.
The wicket-batsman, Kamran Akmal said he was ready to play even in the opener's role in the World Cup but this was up to the selectors to decide what they want to do.
He also took a pot shot at the media and critics over current wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed's ability behind the stumps.
"No doubt Sarfaraz batted very well in the recent matches but as a keeper if I had made the mistakes he made behind the stumps you guys would have torn me to pieces," Kamran said.
He also jumped to the defence of his younger brother, Umar Akmal.
"It is not fair to compare the performances or progress of Umar with India's Virat Kohli... I just want to say bear in mind Umar for most part of his career has been asked to bat at number seven or six and if Kohli was also asked to do the same I would like to see how he would have progressed," Kamran said.
Malik said he was very disheartened at the way he was dropped from the team and shunted around in the batting order.
Malik said the World Cup was a mega event and only players with experience and the ability to perform under pressure should be picked.
"Every team comes to win the tournament and matches so the players who can absorb the pressure and perform are the ones who should be in the team," he said.
