Akmal Dropped, Yousuf Blames Twenty20, Demands Batting Coach

Sreelata YellamrazuJan 7 2010

The Pakistan captain is leading the case against Twenty20, blaming the version for the fiasco of Sydney even as his support for Kamran Akmal falls on deaf years.

mohammad yousuf against australia nathan hauritz

Rise of Akmal, Fall of Akmal

Even as the younger Akmal, Umar Akmal, is rising up the ladder as a potent member of the Pakistan side, his older brother is having a horrific time, especially with the gloves.

kamran akmal 1

The team's premier wicketkeeper, Kamran Akmal, dropped as much as he caught off Danesh Kaneria's bowling. His drops, especially of Michael Hussey who proved to be the difference in the two teams over the last one and a half days of the second Test at the SCG, have become the cynosure of all eyes.

Even as Mohammad Yousuf defended his wicket keeper, Kamran has fallen out of favour. He has been effectively dropped for the third Test against Australia at Hobart. Instead Sarfraz Ahmed will take his place, apparently on the recommendation of former Pakistan wicket keeper, Rashid Latif.

Twenty20 torture

Mohammad Yousuf himself went through a tough time shifting his allegiance from the Indian Cricket League. The lack of takers in the IPL had him at crossroads with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Now he has been lamenting that many youngsters in the Pakistan team were more interested in making millions from the Twenty20 leagues rather than establish themselves in the longer version.

He reiterated the thought while trying to explain the debacle at Sydney in the second Test. While admitting that his own shot to Nathan Hauritz was not ideal, he felt the fact that Pakistan capitulated in 38 overs making just 139 in the chase for 176 is an indicator of the lack of technique and temperament to play the longer format of the game.

He felt the team needed a batting coach, a bowling and fielding coach was already appointed in Waqar Younis (even as the Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is desperately appealing for a bowling coach!).

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