Pakistan exceeded expectations in the 2019 World Cup, feels Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal believes that Pakistan, who finished fifth in the 2019 World Cup, exceeded expectations, but feels that they could have gone even further. Akmal also struck his 31st first-class hundred on Saturday to become the gloveman with the highest number of centuries amongst Asian cricketers.
Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal has long been out of contention as far as a spot in the national team set-up is concerned but that doesn't stop him from slammed tons in first class cricket. The 37-year-old, in this week, scored his 31st FC hundred as he aided Central Punjab to a total of 369 for 5 on the opening day of their match against Northern, in Faisalabad. Akmal now holds the record for the second highest number of hundreds scored by a wicket-keeper batsman in FC history, only second to England's Les Ames.Â
Akmal, who last represented Pakistan in 2017, feels that the country exceeded expectations with their showing in the 2019 World Cup, where they marginally missed out on a semi-final spot as they were edged to it by New Zealand. However, the 37-year-old also believes that the campaign could have been an even better one had the team management paid more attention to the net run rate, which withered massively post the crushing defeat against the Windies.
“Pakistan cricket team went beyond expectations in the world cup as they had beaten the heavyweights of world cricket. If we look at the last five years of Pakistan cricket team’s performances, one can easily claim that this world cup was by far the best as far as they finished fifth," Kamran was quoted as saying by The Nation, reported Hindustan Times.
"But for me and others, who had some knowledge of cricket, it could be the best one, had the team management paid heed towards the day-to-day changing situation and maintained the team’s run-rate, which was rock-bottom after the worst ever defeat against the West Indies,” he added.
Underrated in every sense, Kamran Akmal as a wicketkeeper has always been remembered for the ones that got away and that has shadowed his prolific ability as a batter. But in all fairness, Akmal's hopes of making a comeback to the national team looks all but gone.