Kamran Akmal eyeing international return, says can offer a lot with bat

Pakistan's out-of-favour wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has expressed his desire to make a return to the international cricket, insisting that he has been performing well with the bat from last three years and, therefore, can offer a lot as a batsman to the country.

Akmal, who has been sidelined from international scene since the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh, became something of a running joke in the cricketing world after his wicketkeeping fell way below the international standards.

Keeping that in mind, he is now ready to give up his gloves in order to make a comeback as a specialist batsman.

"I think I have learned the art of batting in the last couple of years only. I am a complete batsman now. I've been focusing on my batting for the last three years and in those years I have mastered it like never before. Previously, I never took my batting that seriously," Kamran, who made his international debut in 2002, was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

"I am not eyeing a place as a wicketkeeper in the Pakistan team. But I do think I have a lot to offer as a batsman. It's not just this domestic season, I've been performing well with the bat for three years now," he added.

The 35-year-old, however, has been very impressive in the recent times, becoming the most successful wicketkeeper in the country's first-class history.

Akmal took a total of seven catches in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QAT) for WAPDA against UBL last week to complete 829 dismissals behind the wickets. He also notched up 588 runs at an average of 84 and has registered three centuries and as many half-centuries.

The wicketkeeper-batsman, the veteran of 53 Tests, 154 ODIs and 54 T20Is, was also successful at the recently-concluded National T20 Cup, where he finished among the top scorers with 260 runs in eight matches.