The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : My innings came at a time when my team needed it most: Akmal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 03, 2007
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My innings came at a time when my team needed it most: Akmal

Amitabha Das Sharma

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

TIMELY KNOCK: Kamran Akmal’s crucial innings came at the right moment.

KOLKATA: A day earlier Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson had wished that the massive total put up by India would catalyse the true quality of his team’s batting.

It did happen on Sunday but came late in the order. Kamran Akmal, aided in his pursuit by Misbah-ul-Haq, summoned bating excellence with a 207-run partnership.

Akmal, who had not done much with the bat since January 2006, became the hero of the Pakistani resurgence at the Eden Gardens.

The 25-year-old wicketkeeper added most in the record partnership (most runs for the sixth wicket partnership at Eden Gardens) scoring 119.

Akmal’s return to form was the talk of the evening.

“I thank God and my parents for whatever I could attain today,” Akmal said. “I find it great that my innings came at a time when my team needed it most,” he said. He also said the task was even more daunting having to tackle two world-class spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

Akmal, who had hauled his team from a similar state of despair when he last scored a century (113) at the Karachi Test almost two years ago, said he would like to excel more as a wicketkeeper. “I have been taking tips ways to improve my ’keeping from a lot of seniors including (Wasim) Bari sir,” Akmal said.

Speaking on how he and Misbah built the partnership, Akmal said he was heeding to what coach Lawson had set as the strategy. “The coach told us to play with half-an-hour targets and we kept building on that line,” he said.

Harbhajan Singh, who scalped three wickets for India, said the morning session of the fourth day (Monday) will be crucial for both sides.

“The first session will be very important. The key is to take the remaining (Pakistan) wickets quickly and that will set us on the driver’s seat once again,” he said. “We still have the chance to win and decide the series in our favour as there is enough runs on the board,” Harbhajan added.

Harbhajan admitted that there were a few slips in his sides fielding, including slipped catches.

“No one drops catches willingly. It definitely has an effect on the game but there is no use crying over it now,” he said.

The off-spinner commended the effort of Akmal, saying he is really a quality player though he needs to perform more frequently.

When asked about how he feels about the role played by Misbah, Harbjhajan said, “He (Misbah) is a very good player of spin. The bowlers do not know about his weakness, for he has not played much. I hope we will be able to break through his defence.”

Pat for Murali

Harbhajan also congratulated Muttiah Muralitharan for equalling Shane Warne’s record of 708 wickets. “Hats off to him. I have no words that can explain his great talent. He is a phenomenal bowler, a wicket-taking machine,” he said.

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