Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, who has been dropped from the team because of his form, has opined that the Green Army could have won the Test as well as the T20I series if they had learned from the mistakes sooner during the series.
For the batting line up, Kamran said that the T20I results could have been different if the middle order had a bowling allrounder like Faheem Amir Yamin or Amad Butt. Pakistan had levelled the three-match T20I series after winning the third T20I match. The opener T20I match was washed out but England won the second T20I match.
“We need good bowling all-rounder for the middle-order who can score fast while batting well. The team can try Faheem Ashraf, Amir Yamin or Amad Butt for the purpose. It was good to draw the T20I series but we could have won it,” Kamran Akmal said.
Kamra Akmal said that Mohammed Hafeez and Wahab Riaz proved that there was no replacement for the veterans. He added that the experienced players can teach the youngsters a lot in the current team. He further heaped praise on debutant Haidar Ali’s outstanding knock. The wicketkeeper-batsman said that scoring a half-century in English condition was a big achievement for Haider Ali.
“Wahab Riaz’s spell proved his worth for the team while Mohammad Hafeez proved that there was no replacement for experience. Seniors can teach a lot to the juniors in the side. Hafeez helped guide the young Haider Ali and played a sensational knock alongside the youngster. Scoring his first fifty in English conditions is a fantastic achievement for Haider Ali,” Akmal said.
Pakistan should not forget their mistake: Kamran Akmal
After setting a mammoth target of 195 runs, Pakistan failed to defend the total it in front of the Eoin Morgan-led side in the second T20I match. Kamran said that if the fast bowler Wahab Riaz had played that match Pakistan would have won the series.
“They could have defended their score if they had played Wahab Riaz in the second T20I. Spinners from both sides had gone for runs. Fast-bowlers bowled better in the match. Pakistan should have performed better in the Test series as well. The bowlers could not perform according to our expectations.
According to him, Pakistan’s speedsters were more focused on pace while England’s star performers James Anderson and Stuart Broad dominated through line and length. He said that the players should not forget from their mistakes and learn from them.
“On the flip side, James Anderson and Stuart Broad dominated through their line and length. Our bowlers were more focused on pace. They should not just forget their mistakes. They will have to be better by learning from all their shortcomings for the future,” he added.
Pakistan had lost the Test series by 1-0 against England. They lost the first Test match and the last two results in a draw.