Kamran Akmal: Pakistan Super League will ‘increase professionalism’ and be ‘big boost’

'Every domestic cricket will try to be fit and give their best' Kamran Akmal says of the Pakistan Super League's influence on the talent pool.

Kamran Akmal plays a shot for Pakistan during a Twenty20 match in Dubai in 2011. Pawan Singh / The National

On the eve of the Pakistan Super League's launch in Dubai, Kamran Akmal says he is a believer in its promise to improve Pakistan's standards.

Wicketkeeper Akmal is signed up to play with Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, and he is hoping the new Twenty20 league spurs the whole of the Pakistan talent pool to raise their game.

“Following the PSL every domestic cricketer will try to be fit and give their best as everyone will want to be picked by the franchises to play in the PSL,” said Kamran, who has hit six centuries in Test matches and five tons in one day cricket.

Read more: Osman Samiuddin interviews Shahid Afridi on the PSL and its contribution to the future of Pakistan cricket

He has also notched up five half centuries in Twenty20.

“Overall the whole tournament will be a big boost for every cricketer,” he added.

According to Kamran, the big boost for Pakistan cricketers will come from playing alongside the greats of the game. “We all have seen that in whichever league the best players have come those countries have benefitted.

“It increases the professionalism of that country. So sharing the dressing room with players like Chris Gayle, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy and others will help everyone.”

The 34-year-old’s personal goal for the tournament, meanwhile, is the same as any youngster: impress the national selectors. He has been in and out of the national team picture throughout the last few years. A good showing in elite environs of the PSL could help his case for more caps.

“For the last two seasons I have been performing but it is left to the selectors. My job is to show fitness and form and now that the domestic matches are over I will focus on Peshawar Zami and give my best,” Kamran said.

The launch of the Pakistan Super League also comes at an opportune time, with Pakistan targeting a strong showing at the World Twenty20 this year in India and cricketers jockeying for a national team role at the tournament.

“They can stake their claim for a place in the Pakistan team through a good performance here. Domestic cricket ended three days ago and many youngsters gave very good performance including myself and so through PSL, all these are platforms to produce a comeback.”

Talking about the excitement of playing in the PSL, he also said: “The excitement is there to be here. Though we did not get much time to be together. So whatever time we have to be together we will utilise it all for the best preparation in the coming days.

“We will work out hard according to the coach’s plan. We will play for not only the team but whole of Pakistan.”

He said he was confident in the quality of the Peshawar team.

“Our team combination is excellent. We need to practice more to find the right combination on the field, but we have worked hard in the last three days.

“The foreigners who are also in the team are also putting in their effort and so in batting and bowling we have a good combination.”

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