http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060123/asp/sports/story_5755041.aspIt’s a tragedy mistakes alone get noticed, says Kamran Akmal- A TELEGRAPH EXCLUSIVE The wicketkeeper with the fastest Test hundred unwinds LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI
Faisalabad: After a scintillating record-erasing unbeaten 102 at the Gaddafi, in the first Test, young Kamran Akmal fell for a duck on Sunday. But, as he himself accepted in a one-on-one with The Telegraph the other day, nothing is “guaranteed.”
The following are excerpts:
Q On 2005 having been an excellent year
A It was because of Allah’s meherbani ... I’m grateful to him for helping me score five international hundreds ... I’m also thankful to my captain (Inzamam-ul Haq) and coach (Bob Woolmer) ... Cricket is a team sport and no individual achieves anything without the support of teammates.
On the top lesson learnt in the past 12 months
That I’ve got to work harder ... I’ve learnt that from seniors.
On whether the tour of India was the defining moment in his career
There was so much pressure ... It was followed by every Pakistani ... Thankfully, I played an important hand when we saved the first Test (Mohali) and that took some of the pressure off me ... I was determined to repeat that performance, but couldn’t as Allah didn’t want it ... Still, that was a landmark tour for me — and the rest of the team, too.
On having done well on the next tour, to the West Indies, as well
I didn’t make much of an impression with the bat, but really enjoyed ‘keeping ... Inzybhai continued to give me confidence and, when the captain has so much faith, any player’s performance is bound to get better.
On the interaction between Inzamam and him
Much of it is about handling pressure. Having been so successful across the world, Inzybhai talks with the weight of experience behind him ...
On the effort he has himself been putting in
After the West Indies, we were advised a complete break for at least three weeks. However, I couldn’t stay at home for more than three days ... I probably began training from the fourth day ... That effort paid off when England came ... Agar main off season mein train nahi karta, it’s possible I would have been found wanting at the start of this season ... As is known, I got a Test hundred and two in ODIs.
On whether he’d expected Pakistan to beat the Ashes winners
Ummid definitely thi ... We took to the Test series and the ODIs with faith in Allah and faith in our abilities ... We won because everybody worked very hard ... Then, we were disciplined …
On whether he began this series with the pressure of having to deliver once again
Pressure is going to remain, but I’ve learnt to handle it better ... I’ve begun with just one goal: That I don’t let the team down ... That I can stand up and be counted when I’m needed the most.
On ‘keeping to Shoaib Akhtar
It’s a pleasure.
On whether Danish Kaneria has a ‘signal’ for him
(Laughs) I read the deliveries off his hand ... That’s the safest way... (After a pause) Usually, at the end of the day, Danish and I speak about the way he bowled and the way I kept to him ... That exercise helps both of us.
On whether he followed Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s exploits in the lead-up to this series
Absolutely ... Though he played against us last year, I’d first seen him in an A tournament in Kenya two years ago ... While the rest struggled, he got runs at will ... I knew he would soon make it big and his India debut came only a few months after that. Dhoni is a fine ’keeper, too.
On whether wicketkeepers should also be classified as allrounders
For me, that’s not an issue. However, I do feel strongly about ’keepers not getting the recognition they deserve. It’s a tragedy that mistakes alone get noticed ... A dropped catch or a missed stumping ... Surely, good catches and smart stumpings need to be highlighted ... Hardly anybody appreciates that ’keepers have a difficult job.
On handling success
Allah is guiding me ... He has ensured that I do the correct things ... Success lekin guaranteed nahin hai ... It’s because of the guidance that I’ve been able to realise my dream of playing for Pakistan ... Every child has some ambition or the other, but not everybody gets what’s desired ... I’ve been fortunate ... I’ve been lucky as well ...
On whether younger brother Adnan remains the biggest threat
(Laughs again) He is ... The good thing is that even if he replaces me, an Akmal is still going to be doing the job! Adnan’s my biggest critic, but I know his criticism is constructive ... I respect what he says.
On whether he continues to be a loyal A. R. Rahman and Sonu Nigam fan
Of course ... It’s not that I don’t listen to other Indian singers, but they are special.
Finally, on having done better than Adam Gilchrist — somebody he admires — during his blazing knock at the Gaddafi
At times, I still can’t believe what I’ve achieved ... Wicket flat tha aur hamara din bhi tha ... Everything clicked ... Again, though, I’ll thank Allah.
AuthorTopic: Interview with Kamran Akmal (Read 502 times)
February 01, 2006, 04:30:51 PM