ISLAMABAD: Veteran Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has compared former Hyderabad young pacer Umran Malik to former legend Shuaib Akhtar. Kamran Akmal, who also played for the Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural IPL season 2008, told PakTVTV that Umran’s international debut would have been over by now if he had played in Pakistan.
‘Had he been in Pakistan, Umran would have played international matches by now. Umran’s economy rate is high. But he is a strike bowler. The wickets are falling.
Umran bowls at an average speed of 155 kmph in every race. This is not diminishing. The pacers are a good match for the Indian team right now.
Previously, the Indian team had fewer fast bowlers. But now there are Nawdeep Saini, Mohammad Siraj, Mohammad Shami and Jaspreet Bumra.
Umran played a total of one or two matches in the last IPL season. Had he been in Pakistan, Umran would have definitely played for us. But India showed maturity by giving Umran a chance to play another IPL season. So did Brett Lee and Shuaib Akhtar. Like Umran, they conceded more runs, but also took wickets. This is how strike bowlers should be, ”said Akmal.
English Summary: ‘If Umran was in Pakistan, he would’ve played for us’: Pakistan veteran compares SRH pace sensation with Shoaib Akhtar