Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal has become Asia’s most prolific Asian wicketkeeper-batsman after scoring yet another century in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
The 37-year-old scored 31st First-Class century while playing for Central Punjab against Northern in Faisalabad. He scored 157 runs from 170 deliveries and put his team in a commanding position.
Kamran Akmal's 31st First class 💯 is now most by any Asian Wicket Keeper and second most by any wicket keeper in the world. Incredible stuff @KamiAkmal23 🏏#QeA19 #Pakistan #Cricket pic.twitter.com/6zVuYDYMZJ
— Faizan Najeeb (@najeebfaizan) September 21, 2019
Akmal also ranks second in the list of most centuries scored by a wicketkeeper. Late England cricketer Les Ames leads the list with 56 First-Class centuries, which he scored his 25-year career from 1926 to 1951.
Kamran Akmal joins the list of elite players such as Kumar Sangakkara and MS Dhoni. The Sri Lankan has 64 first-class centuries but most of his tons came while he was playing as a specialist batsman.
Sri Lankan Kaushal Silva and MS Dhoni are the only current active wicketkeeper-batsmen with 26 centuries 9 respectively to come close to Kamran Akmal.
Despite being out of the Pakistan team since 2017, Akmal claimed that he will continue to try his best to make a comeback and impress the recently appointed head coach Misbah-ul-Haq.
I will continue to play until and unless my form deserts me and I’m no longer fit enough to play. The example of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq is in front of us as they contributed for Pakistan despite being in their late 30s and early 40s.
Do you think Kamran Akmal deserves to be included in the national squad? Let us know in the comments section below.
Performance & Integrity are 2 different things! Kamran an Umer both lack integrity which is an essential ingredient to represent one’s Country. Moreover they have long passed their best i.e. if there ever was one! Life goes forwards and not backwards-look to the future an stop romantacizing the past!
Ma ka lo…Hara.., jawari,
Yes, he deserved
Yes.
Mr Kamran Akmal is wonderful wicket keeper Batsman and deserve the chance.