Akmal asks India to help Pakistan out of 'worst phase'

[Savak]

Akmal asks India to help Pakistan out of 'worst phase'

Press Trust Of India

Posted on Mar 15, 2009 at 11:36

New Delhi: Concerned about the future of cricket in Pakistan after the Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan team, wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal said India can help save the game in his country by agreeing to play there.

"Pakistan cricket is in its worst phase. Not a single foreign team is willing to play here. It has certainly affected our players' motivation apart from the financial losses," he told PTI Bhasha in an interview from Karachi where he is playing a domestic one-day tournament.

Admitting that Pakistan is on the verge of being isolated in international cricket, Akmal urged India to lend a helping hand.

"Indian cricketers like (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, Yuvraj (Singh), Irfan Pathan enjoy huge fan following in Pakistan. It will be a great help if India reconsiders it's decision not to tour Pakistan. It will certainly help bring Pakistan cricket back on track," said the cricketer, who has played 40 Tests and 94 ODIs so far.

"It is a great loss not only for our cricketers but cricket lovers as well. They could not see their favourite players playing here. It is regretful."

Akmal said reluctance of top teams like India, Australia and South Africa's to visit Pakistan has affected the morale of the players and the situation has worsened after the Lahore attack.

"If India, Australia and South Africa continue to avoid Pakistan than cricket will not survive here. Domestic tournaments do not get spectators. Stadiums are empty during the ongoing domestic one-day tournament. Players do not have any motivation," he said.

Akmal said playing at neutral venues was not the solution to Pakistan cricket's woes.

"PCB will get money from TV rights and title sponsorship but that is not enough. Financial losses will affect domestic structure in Pakistan cricket and we won't get good cricketers. So it will have long term impacts," said the 27-year-old player.

Link: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/akmal-aks-india-to-help-pakistan-out-of-worst-phase/39086-13.html

Comments: How about helping yourself out for a change?

[howzzat]

BCCI may send the team within months to pakistan if government allows it. Nothing makes more money than a India-Pakistan series.

just dont see Australia touring Pakistan for a long time now..They will be the last to tour pak..

unless PCB drops some $$$$$$$ in front of them ;-)

[Random Aussie]

Akmal, like most Pakistan cricketers and officials, seems to have missed the bit about the opposition team being shot and injured and the officials being shot and injured.

While the presidential security was nowhere to be seen. The attack itself is not the fault of Pakistan. The fact that people were seriously injured and lucky not be killed is 100% the fault of Pakistan.

Nobody will tour Pakistan for the forseeable future. Not even India. And even if India tour (with the massive security that entails) how can any other board trust Pakistan to give the necessary security? They can't and won't.

[Momo]

Akmal expressed his fear that missing action for so long may have an adverse effect on his technique of dropping catches regularly. 'It's all about rythm and good habits, and such a long absence can never be good for these things,' he opined. MomoNewsService.

On a serious note, I understand his feelings and also realize that he was answering a question etc, but why the hell are our players begging the other boards to reconsider their decisions? It's demeaning to them, and more importantly, quite useless too.

[spectator]

instead of becoming a spokesperson of pcb he should focus on droping lmore catches and scoring runs to stay in the team

[IronMan2009]

Akmal expressed his fear that missing action for so long may have an adverse effect on his technique of dropping catches regularly. 'It's all about rythm and good habits, and such a long absence can never be good for these things,' he opined. MomoNewsService.

On a serious note, I understand his feelings and also realize that he was answering a question etc, but why the hell are our players begging the other boards to reconsider their decisions? It's demeaning to them, and more importantly, quite useless too.

I understand his point too. Unfortunately it is true. Motivation will be dwindling. But it is beyond his power at this moment.

[Mercenary]

Press Trust of India!!

[pace007]

i hope its not true because a man should have more pride than this - does he drop self respect as much as he drops balls? :akmal

[Indian Pretending to To Be Pakistani]

Press Trust of India!!


if he did not say those words, he could sue cricketnext.com and make money through that, instead of begging for money (literally if the news was really true) to drop catches in the matches against india.

[MalikMohsin]

It's waste of time for suing cricketnext.com. At the end, it's all compromise and no money in return.

[ehjaz]

Akmal! please trust in your own abilities and try hard to fight this on your own rather than relying on the two faced weak link................

[Ali888]

How dumb is this guy?

How little dignity does he have?

Begging India to come and play us, how shameful.

Shameful enough if one did not suspect the ulterior motive is simply for him to be able to play IPL and get even more rich. What a little **** and he can't even catch.

[Sultan Yusuf]

Can our players just have some dignity! What's with all the begging, pleading and calling on favours?

This new generation are a disgrace!

[minhasuz]

Instead of bringing the cricket game on track, Mr. Akmal can you first bring yourself on track. Then bring the cricket on track :akmal

[Indian Pretending to To Be Pakistani]

i think we should not blame our players here. for us its just the game, we have other career and make money through that. but for the players, thats their profession. they see the difference more than us. infact thye see the real difference. its like making $100K per year and $500K per year. they see the big difference. ultimately everybody wants money.

[Sultan Yusuf]

i think we should not blame our players here. for us its just the game, we have other career and make money through that. but for the players, thats their profession. they see the difference more than us. infact thye see the real difference. its like making $100K per year and $500K per year. they see the big difference. ultimately everybody wants money.

OUR players? :20:

[Saj]

I woud treat anything that comes for the Press Trust of India with a pinch of salt. They seem to be the Indian version of Waheed Khan who tends to dream up conversations that he has had with Mr Source and scribbles them down to make an article of sorts.

[kingusama92]

I don't agree with him here at all. I think the BCCI is going to wait this out and really milk this Indo-pak series a few years down the road when the fans start craving for it again.

[USaqaf]

India will not play Pak in Pak for a long time, they will instead force to play in India or neutral venue.

[McBoom]

Any players making such pleas should be banned from Pakistani team and should only be allowed to come back after getting 100 chittars on his back side.

What kind of players are we selecting? So little self respect, such absence of dignity! Disgraceful behaviour.

[independent_spirit]

what a shame.. !!! its pathetic.

[FAHAD KHAN]

I dont understand why people are making such a big deal about playing at neutral venues.
There were hardly about a 100 people watching a test match on the ground.
And i assume most people these days have TV s
Just watch the game on Tv and stop moaning that we will die without help
And whoever is not motivated enough to play in empty stadiums kick him out of the team and Akamal should be kicked out anyway evan if he is motivated
I just cant stand Akmal sounds so pathetic just like his keeping

[12thMan]

It's basic stuff. If India comes then Pakistan governement will also lift the ban and players can go to IPL. But no chance of India coming soon even if ban is lifted

[cricwiz]

Why has Akmal forgotten that,

"Allah help those who help themselves"... & frankly :ibutt :Zardari etc are not doing anything concrete to help Pakistan cricket...

I dont find a single reason why India would/should help Pakistan get out of turmoils we are in??

[Zaz]

Akmal expressed his fear that missing action for so long may have an adverse effect on his technique of dropping catches regularly. 'It's all about rythm and good habits, and such a long absence can never be good for these things,' he opined. MomoNewsService.

On a serious note, I understand his feelings and also realize that he was answering a question etc, but why the hell are our players begging the other boards to reconsider their decisions? It's demeaning to them, and more importantly, quite useless too.


Yeah its about time we stood up for ourselves, stop the begging, lets play neutral and stop relying on the indians. We dont need them and they are of no help apart to themselves. We need to get tougher.

This is just pathetic

[truth]

Akmal asks India to help Pakistan out of 'worst phase'

Press Trust Of India

Posted on Mar 15, 2009 at 11:36

New Delhi: Concerned about the future of cricket in Pakistan after the Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan team, wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal said India can help save the game in his country by agreeing to play there.

"Pakistan cricket is in its worst phase. Not a single foreign team is willing to play here. It has certainly affected our players' motivation apart from the financial losses," he told PTI Bhasha in an interview from Karachi where he is playing a domestic one-day tournament.

Admitting that Pakistan is on the verge of being isolated in international cricket, Akmal urged India to lend a helping hand.

"Indian cricketers like (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, Yuvraj (Singh), Irfan Pathan enjoy huge fan following in Pakistan. It will be a great help if India reconsiders it's decision not to tour Pakistan. It will certainly help bring Pakistan cricket back on track," said the cricketer, who has played 40 Tests and 94 ODIs so far.

"It is a great loss not only for our cricketers but cricket lovers as well. They could not see their favourite players playing here. It is regretful."

Akmal said reluctance of top teams like India, Australia and South Africa's to visit Pakistan has affected the morale of the players and the situation has worsened after the Lahore attack.

"If India, Australia and South Africa continue to avoid Pakistan than cricket will not survive here. Domestic tournaments do not get spectators. Stadiums are empty during the ongoing domestic one-day tournament. Players do not have any motivation," he said.

Akmal said playing at neutral venues was not the solution to Pakistan cricket's woes.

"PCB will get money from TV rights and title sponsorship but that is not enough. Financial losses will affect domestic structure in Pakistan cricket and we won't get good cricketers. So it will have long term impacts," said the 27-year-old player.

Link: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/akmal-aks-india-to-help-pakistan-out-of-worst-phase/39086-13.html

Comments: How about helping yourself out for a change?
this shows that Pakistan Players where not happy with the governemnt banning them in playing IPL due to concerns ................. it seems Pakistan players by heart wished to play in IPL which gives them fame and money .................................... rather than getting fame by playing for Pakistan

[90MPH]

Its embarrassing to hear this from Kamran. They (the players or officals) should not beg anyone to come along especially after the horrendous attack on the Sri Lankan team bus. It will take a good 2 or 3 years at least before a Test nation will visit pakistan again (and that too IF the security and political situation improves dramatically).