If this is true, then I think the PCB has to take actions and no wives/kids accompany on future tours. What the heck is the point of brining the wife and your playing test cricket (all important day 4) that you’re up at night putting your kid to sleep while the wife is sleeping?
Kamran Akmal puts family over country
Most Pakistani cricketers have brought their wives and kids to Australia
Saturday, January 09, 2010
From Khalid Hussain
SYDNEY: Experts may be underlining various flaws in Kamran Akmal’s technique but there is a big chance that the fumbling wicketkeeper let Pakistan down in the Sydney Test because for him family came first.
‘The News’ has learnt through sources here on Friday that during the second Test Kamran was forced to stay up late for babysitting on several occasions, something that could have affected his showing in the match which Pakistan lost by 36 runs after securing a 206-run first innings lead.
According to eyewitnesses, Kamran was often seen pacing down the corridor on the floor of the Inter Continental hotel in central Sydney with his baby in his arms.
“His (Kamran’s) wife used to go to sleep and the player had to look after the infant baby,” explained the eyewitness.
Kamran, Pakistan’s vice-captain and one of the team’s senior members, dropped four catches and a run-out opportunity during the second Test.
He floored Michael Hussey three times off leggie Danish Kaneria and the experienced Australian batter went on to score an unbeaten 134 to win the match for the hosts.
The Lahore-born Kamran’s poor performance behind the stumps has forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to replace him with young wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for the third and final Test getting underway from January 14 in Hobart.
According to details, Kamran is not the only Pakistani players, who are in Australia with their wives and kids. Majority of the players including Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, are staying here with their families.
“On the floor where the Pakistan team is staying, you can always hear some kid crying. It seems like the players are here on some family holidays,” said the source.
Families on tour is a controversial issue in the world of sports.
Ask the Australian cricketers and they will tell you that it is a difficult matter to legislate.
In 1981, the wives were not allowed to stay with their husbands in the Australian team hotel, so most of the players stayed outside.
According to some senior players, it badly affected team spirit.
In 1985, Australia’s cricket chiefs changed the policy and the wives were allowed to stay in the hotel. It did work better but some of the team members had young children with them and it ruined sleeping patterns.
In 1989, Allan Border, the great Aussie skipper, said there were to be no partners on tour until the Ashes were won. Border’s boys bonded like brothers to win the Ashes 4-0.
Meanwhile, the Kamran Akmal saga continues and even experts like Ian Healy, the former Australia ‘keeper has joined the bandwagon.
Healy has underlines some flaws in Kamran’s technique and has expressed his willingness to work with him.
“Sometimes the left-handed (batsman) gets quite difficult with the backlift high under his eyes and Kaneria probably threatens to spin it more than he actually spins it so he is worrying is it going to spin or bounce or go straight on,” Healy said in an interview.
“I think we can fix it easily enough and he probably needs to spend some time in the nets with Kaneria.”
Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan ‘keeper believes the diminutive Kamran has become too heavy.
“He had too many technical faults, he had put on too much weight for a wicketkeeper of his size and wearing a helmet to the spinners was really hampering him,” Rashid said.
May be they are right. Or may be Kamran just needs to stay away from his family and focus on national duty.