Kamran Akmal

Kamran Akmal

Date of Birth: 13 January 1982, Lahore Bats: Right-handed Other: Wicket-keeper Test Debut: Against Zimbabwe at Harare, 1th Test in 2002/03 ODI Debut: Against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 2002/03

An impressive record in first-class version of the game coupled with Pakistan's woes with regard to the wicket-keeper spot meant that Kamran Akmal was on his way to the national team.

Akmal, who made his first-class debut at the age of 15, earned a place in the Pakistan A team visiting Sri Lanka to play the nation's A team in 2002.

He was part of the Pakistan team visiting Zimbabwe as a preference to Moin Khan.

He was not expected to play in the Tests, but made his debut — and chipped in with a handy 38 at Harare — when Rashid Latif suffered a recurrence of a long-standing back injury.

His berth has been subject to either Latif or Khan missing on some pretext or the other. He played in place of Latif who was suspended for five One-Day Internationals against Bangladesh and subsequently against India in 2004 in the last two Tests in Lahore and Rawalpindi when Khan got injured.

As of today, with neither of his two seniors likely to return to the squad, he is set to stay put for a while as has been the case of the visiting Pakistan side in Australia in the 2004-05 season.