It is not easy for a 33-year-old to make a comeback but veteran wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is not ready to throw in the towel yet, expressing his desire to play even as a "specialist batsman" alongside Sarfraz Ahmed in the Pakistan team.
Akmal senior last played an international match for Pakistan in Dhaka in April 2014 during ICC World T20 and since then has been left in the cold by Pakistan selectors.
Questioned how difficult it would be for him to regain his place considering the current wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has done well in the limited chances that he has got, Akmal told PTI,"I don't believe that two wicketkeepers can't be in playing XI if both are good. Look at Sri Lanka where both Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal have been part of playing XI. Also Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene.
"I am working hard on my game. I am ready to even play as a specialist batsman and can fit into any role in which the team wants me to."
For the seasoned campaigner, who has played 53 Tests, 154 ODIs and 54 T20 Internationals in the last 13 years, the upcoming edition of Caribbean Premier League will be very important in his comeback bid.
Akmal will be playing for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel in the CPL under Dwayne Bravo's captaincy.
"Caribbean Premier League will be an important tournament for me. I want to give my hundred percent and hopefully my performance will be noticed as the goal is still to play for Pakistan. We have Dwayne Bravo and Jacques Kallis in the team with whom I can talk about my game. It's always a great thing to play alongside top international players," Akmal said.
His contemporary Shoaib Malik has recently made a comeback to the national team and Akmal believes that good performances in tournaments like CPL, Big Bash or IPL certainly boost chances of returning.
"We all remember the example of Shaun Marsh. Once he had a good IPL, he was straightaway drafted into the Australian team. The Trinidad and Tobago team is a nice outfit and I have had some positive interactions with chief coach Simon Helmont," said Akmal.
Asked about who are the wicketkeepers that he looks upto, he named Adam Gilchrist, Sangakkara and MS Dhoni as three men with big gloves, who had inspired him.
"Gilly, Sanga and MS have been outstanding for their respective countries. I look upto them for inspiration. From my own country, it has been former keeper Rasheed Latif, who has helped me a lot. Although I am not in regular touch with them but I have always tried to take some time out and interact with them during tours," concluded Akmal, whose brother Umar will also play in CPL for Guyana.
