PAK vs ENG: Kamran Akmal urges Pakistan to come out of friendships

Former wicketkeeper batter Kamran Akmal urged the Pakistan cricket team to come out of friendships and start thinking of the team after losing the second T20I against England which was played in Birmingham on Saturday.

The Babar Azam-led unit was all out for 160 runs in 19.2 overs while chasing the 184-run target. That was Pakistan’s eighth loss against England in their last 11 matches.

Talking after the match, Akmal opened up on Pakistan’s performance saying that they need to come out of the friendship mindset and start trusting other players who are waiting for chances on the bench. He also stated that Gary Kirsten should think about the team and drop players who are not performing.

"The difference between Pakistan and England is this, they came up with a brilliant plan, the way they defended the target with their bowling despite Pakistan having a deep batting lineup," Akmal said on his YouTube channel.

“Pakistan isn’t coming out of the circle, we are still thinking that Shadab has to play, so he plays. He has been playing for 2.5 years with this form and performance but this is Pakistan’s team, not of some region or club.

“Gary Kirsten has come, he should think about the form [of certain players]. Saim Ayub has been playing for 20 matches, look at his form, other players are also here to play, and they too have come with performances. You have taken 15 players with you so play them. Don’t think that the people of Pakistan will not say anything no matter what you do.”

Akmal, who was part of Pakistan’s squad that won the 2009 T20 World Cup, expressed that he was expecting more from Kirsten and urged him to use his power as a head coach and make necessary changes in the team.

“I was expecting more from Gary as he has been a great coach. If they [the players] aren’t changing, then he should show his power. This is what the management should do. Please come out of friendships. Play the deserving ones, tell me why Abrar [Ahmed] still isn’t playing?” he added.

“Should we start thinking that Pakistan doesn’t have the ability to win against big teams? Or the management needs to start thinking about the team. Everyone plays for themselves but if you don’t think of the team and start playing good cricket, how can you increase the level of your cricket?”