Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman and national selector, Kamran Akmal, has launched a scathing critique of the national team management, including past and present captains, for their perceived lack of faith in spinners, particularly during home Test series. Akmal contends that spinners in Pakistan have been consistently sidelined and denied adequate opportunities to showcase their skills over the past three years. His comments come in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing 0-2 defeat to Bangladesh in their recent home series.
Akmal emphasized the crucial role of spinners in securing home victories, stating, “There is no way we will win a home series without a spinner taking wickets.” He expressed his bewilderment at the management’s reluctance to invest in spinners, highlighting their persistent exclusion from the team despite their proven abilities. “My observation is that in the last three-four years, the management and captains have not shown patience to develop the spinners,” he asserted.
Akmal pointed to the exclusion of seasoned spinners like Yasir Shah, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Bilal Asif, Zahid Mahmood, and Usman Qadir as evidence of this neglect. He questioned the justification for overlooking these bowlers, arguing that their experience and proven track record warranted inclusion in the team. “When Babar (Azam) was captain, he kept some spinners in the squad but never bothered to play them regularly. Unless spinners get constant exposure, how will they come through?” he questioned.
Akmal highlighted Pakistan’s consistent success in home matches, attributed to a balanced attack incorporating both fast bowlers and spinners. “Even when we were forced to play in UAE, we won Tests mainly because of our spinners,” he said. “We don’t have pacers who are as strong as those we had in the past and yet we are expecting them to win us the series. The recent series against Bangladesh is an example.”
He questioned the absence of experienced spinners like Yasir Shah and Noman Ali from the team, emphasizing their continued success in first-class cricket. He pointed out the lack of justification for excluding these bowlers, stating, “Where is Yasir Shah? Isn’t he still active in first class cricket? Where has Noman Ali gone? Didn’t he take wickets? Did he get punished? He had appendicitis in Australia, got operated on, and was then sidelined.”
He also criticized the exclusion of other spinners like Usman Qadir, Sajid Khan, and Bilal Asif, questioning their omission despite their impressive performances, including five-wicket hauls. “What was Usman Qadir’s fault? What was Sajid Khan’s fault? What was Bilal Asif’s fault? All of them have taken five-wicket hauls and yet are out of the team,” he lamented.
Akmal further highlighted the vulnerabilities of Pakistan’s batting lineup, particularly against fast bowling. He observed that the team’s batters are comfortable against pace deliveries around 130-140 kmph but struggle when faced with faster speeds. “Our batters are comfortable against pacers bowling at 130-140 kmph, but when they face a pace of 140 kmph or more, and they see that on the scoreboard during the match, their legs start to give way,” he explained.
He pointed to the recent series against Bangladesh as evidence of this weakness, where Pakistan struggled against Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed, who bowled at speeds exceeding 140 kmph. “See how we struggled against Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed who bowl 140 kmph plus. Look at the way our main batters were dismissed,” he stated.
Akmal emphasized the importance of domestic cricket in player development, expressing concerns about the players’ excessive focus on overseas leagues. He argued that this prioritization of lucrative overseas opportunities over domestic cricket is detrimental to the players’ skill development and contributes to inconsistent performances at the international level. “They prefer to go and play in useless foreign leagues to earn money and this is not helping them develop their skills. This lack of commitment towards domestic cricket is leading to inconsistent performances at the international level.”
While acknowledging the players’ desire to capitalize on financial opportunities in foreign leagues, Akmal stressed the importance of a balanced approach. “There is nothing wrong with players wanting to earn money from foreign leagues. But I think as a professional you have to balance your schedule and ensure that while you earn money you also improve yourself as a player for your country,” he added.
Finally, Akmal offered his assessment of Babar Azam’s current form, attributing his struggles to technical flaws. He observed a lack of confidence and a tendency to expose his off-stump, resulting in errors in shot selection. “He is unsure of himself and his off-stump early on and has this tendency to leave his leg stump exposed. Balls that should be played towards cover are being played straight, and the bat doesn’t go towards the ball’s direction,” he explained.
