Kamran to face the axe, international career might be over

Karachi (PTI) - Experienced Pakistani
wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal may have played his last
international match after his disappointing performance in the
World Cup semifinal against India in Mohali.
A reliable source close to the Pakistan National
Selection Committee told PTI that the selectors had decided
before the match that if he didn't perform in the crucial game
they would start looking for replacements.
"The fact is that the selectors had decided before the
World Cup that Kamran would no longer be playing Test matches.
But they had backed him to perform in the tournament so that
he could be considered for limited over cricket," the source
said.
According to the source if Kamran had performed in the
semi-final he would have remained in contention to continue
playing limited over cricket.
"But now according to what the selectors have decided
his Pakistan career is virtually over as they are not happy
with either his keeping or batting at this level," the source
said.
"For a player who has been around since 2002, their
appears to be no consistency or improvement in his keeping or
batting and the selectors now believe it is time to find a
replacement for him and move on," the source said.
Kamran, 29, has played 53 Tests, 137 ODIs and 38 T20
internationals but in recent times his wayward keeping
abilities and inconsistent batting has disappointed the
selectors as well as his fans.
The source said the selectors would definitely not be
picking Kamran for the forthcoming tour to the West Indies for
either format of the game.
"The selectors will rely on Adnan Akmal and Sarfaraz
Ahmed for the West Indies tour that is now decided after the
semi final today (Wednesday)," the source said.
Kamran's repeated follies behind the stumps, including
some vital dropped catches, have cost Pakistan team a lot and
again Wednesday his keeping was untidy while he scored just 19
runs opening the innings.
"The selectors will now also decide on the future of
some senior players in the limited over teams as they now plan
to blood more new players in one-day and T20 cricket on the
West Indies tour," the source added.
Enigmatic fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar has already
announced his retirement from international cricket after the
World Cup and the Pakistan team management also didn't play
him in the last four matches of the tournament.
Ironically Shoaib's ouster from the playing eleven
also involved Kamran who had dropped two catches in one over
from Shoaib against New Zealand leading to an argument between
them in the dressing room and eventual disciplinary action
against the temperamental fast bowler.