In an exclusive chat with PakPassion.net, Kamran Akmal reviews the September 27th's key clash between Sialkot Stallions and Lahore Lions in the Faysal Bank T20 tournament and also talks about resumption of his international career

by Saj Sadiq (September 26, 2011)

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal spoke of his excitement when looking ahead to Tuesday’s huge clash against Sialkot in the Faysal Bank Cup Twenty20 tournament currently being played in Karachi.

The draw saw two of the favourites and high profile teams, the Sialkot Stallions and the Lahore Lions paired in the same group, something that both teams probably wanted to avoid. Both teams boast a number of current and former international players and this match which starts at 8pm local time promises to be an exciting encounter, with the explosive batting line up of Lahore coming up against the experienced and varied bowling attack of Sialkot.

Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net, 29 year old Akmal referred to the encounter as a “do or die” match in which both teams won’t be prepared to give an inch to the opposition.

“It’s a huge match, a match that sees two of the best teams in the tournament square up to each other. It’s a “do or die” match - I would refer to it as a final for both teams. Sialkot are a very powerful team, but we are also a very strong team and have played a lot of good cricket in this format for a number of years.”

The Lahore Lions started this years Faysal Bank Cup with a comprehensive 82 run victory over Hyderabad in which Akmal scored an explosive 62 off only 41 deliveries, including 7 fours and 1 six. Akmal was pleased with the start that Lahore have made but urged his team mates to focus on the upcoming encounter with Silakot.

“We won the first match against Hyderabad comfortably and the boys looked sharp and in form. We are a confident group of players but we must guard against complacency as Sialkot will of course present a much tougher challenge than our previous opponents.”

Lahore had seven current or former internationals in their starting eleven in the opening match and Sialkot have the services of a talented and experienced bowling line up that includes Rana Naved ul Hasan, Naved Arif, Raza Hasan, Shoaib Malik and Abdur Rehman.

Akmal expects the Sialkot bowlers to present a tough challenge to the star studded Lahore batting unit.

“Sialkot have the services this time around of a number of players that did not play last time. You cannot write off any team with the likes of Rana Naved in their ranks. They look a much stronger all round team this time around. However we (Lahore) have also got strength in depth and have been strengthened by the return of some players.”

Akmal who has scored 36 half centuries and 14 centuries in first class cricket feels that in such a high profile match, an individual performance could quite easily change the course of the game, but the team that is mentally the toughest will come out victorious.

“Mental toughness plays a big part in these must win matches and whoever is mentally stronger on the day will be the victor. I do also feel that given the talent on display one individual could singlehandedly change the outcome of the game in the space of a few overs. The match is the last of the day and I believe there is no advantage in either batting first or bowling first as conditions will be excellent for batting throughout and the same for both sides.”

The match between Lahore and Sialkot has been described by some as a battle between Lahore’s highly rated batting line up that contains in addition to Kamran, Ahmed Shehzad, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Akmal and Nasir Jamshed against the wily and experienced Sialkot bowling group. However Akmal feels that the Sialkot batsmen cannot be written off and underrated by the Lahore bowling group.

“I don’t think the match can be just simplified as our batting against their bowling strength as their batting line up is also very capable. Imran Nazir did not play in their first match due to illness, but he is expected to play tomorrow. The Sialkot team isn’t just about their bowling unit, but about their all round strength. It’s about who performs on the day and I am very hopeful that Lahore can come out victorious in this encounter, especially with our batting guns like Ahmed Shehzad, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Akmal and Nasir Jamshed in our starting line up. There’s a lot of experience there and I’m sure we can utilise that experience to our advantage.”

Akmal was unceremoniously dropped from the Pakistan side after the World Cup semi final defeat in Mohali against India and has not played for Pakistan since, but he hopes that his form in domestic cricket can once again catch the eye of the selectors

“I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. I’ve shown the watching world what I can do in the last 8 or 9 years and I don’t go out there thinking that I have to prove anything to anyone. My performance in domestic cricket last year was also very good and I am focussed only on playing for Lahore in the ongoing tournament and thinking of nothing other than performing well for Lahore and helping them win this tournament. Looking ahead, if the selectors want to pick me then that is well and good. If I am picked then that is great, if not then that is my destiny, what is important is that I have the blessings of my parents.”

Akmal senior has regularly voiced his intentions to be picked purely as a batsman especially given that younger brother Adnan is showing his competency in test cricket and one day cricket and now the Pakistan think tank seem to prefer the option of Umar Akmal in Twenty over cricket. Kamran once again stressed that he would play purely as a batsman in any format if that is what the selectors, management and captain required.

“Its not up to me of course. It’s the national team and its down to those people who have the responsibility of selecting the team whether I play or not. I have always played as a wicketkeeper/batsman but if required I would be more than happy to play purely as a batsman. I am ready to serve my country once again in any way they want me to, whether that is as a wicketkeeper/batsman or only as a batsman. The aim is to play for my country once again.”

Akmal was excluded from the latest list of players offered central contracts by the Pakistan Cricket Board and responded to a question about his unhappiness with the Cricket Board for not offering him a contract this time around stating that “Its up to the Board, they make the decisions. All I can do is to work hard and do my best to get back into the team once again.”