Don't Pin All The Blame On Kamran, Says Waqar

[Devil Soul]

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Don't Pin All The Blame On Kamran, Says Waqar

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka, March 8, 2011 (AFP) -Coach Waqar Younis admitted dropped catches by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal cost Pakistan the match against New Zealand but praised Ross Taylor for the innings of a lifetime.

Taylor, who benefited from two astonishing let-offs by Kamran, hit a career-best unbeaten 131 to fire his side to 302-7 before New Zealand dismissed Pakistan for 192 in a key Group A match at Pallekele stadium.

Waqar admitted the catches -- both off paceman Shoaib Akhtar, with Taylor on nought and eight -- were easy chances and cost Pakistan dear.

But he said Kamran, often the target of criticism due to his fumbles behind the stumps, should not take all of the blame for the defeat.

"I don't think this is the time to put the blame on someone. It's a fact that he didn't do the best keeping, the standard was not good and he dropped a few catches," said Waqar.

"Those were straight sitters, it was not as if they were difficult catches, but then it's cricket and such things do happen. It was a bad day for him as he dropped catches which really cost us the game," he added.

But former paceman Waqar also said credit should go to Taylor, adding: "I guess the way he played, you play just one or two innings like that in your life."

The coach ruled out dropping Kamran.

"I think maybe after the World Cup, we can think about it but now we are in the middle of the tournament and I don't think we can make such a change and panic. We should not."

Waqar said poor bowling in the closing overs of New Zealand's innings, with Pakistan conceding a whopping 100 runs in the last five overs, proved costly.

"Without a doubt it was a huge turning point to give chance to somebody like Taylor, who's a top player in their side. It cost us but we also bowled poorly," said Waqar.

Waqar said his team must regroup before their next game against Zimbabwe at the same ground on Monday.

"We are not going to panic, that's the important thing. If we panic here we're really going to struggle in this tournament. There are still big games to come. We've got Australia to handle and then we go to the quarter-finals," said Waqar.

Pakistan have six points from four matches and are second in Group A behind New Zealand on net run-rate. Sri Lanka are third and defending champions Australia fourth.

[Areesh]

So can we pin all the blame on you Mr Coach.

[RaptorRX707]

Good answer:

Probably Kamran Akmal last games after World cup tournaments.

It's a fact that he didn't do the best keeping, the standard was not good and he dropped a few catches," said Waqar.

"I think maybe after the World Cup, we can think about it but now we are in the middle of the tournament and I don't think we can make such a change and panic. We should not."

Sure, let's wait and see. If he will drop catch again, time to go home.

[Archie]

Question is , if Kamran IS Droped then who will replace him

He also has to be decent with the Bat which Kamran is apart from being a good wicket Keeper which Kamdrop is seriously not

Let us take the case of India
We have Dinesh Kartik who is a better wicket keeper than Dhoni ,but is not as good with the bat, Keeping for us in Test and ODI matches as a sub for Dhoni apart from opening the game if Either of Sehwag or Gambhir is injured, coz his slow strike rate doesnot matter in test.

THE REASON WHY kARTIK IS NOT A PERMANENT FIXTURE IN ODI is becoz of his slow strike rate ,AND DHONI'S CAPABILITY TO HIT LONG SIXES AT THE DEATH
even though he would be a better wicketkeeper and take some daring catches which Dhoni misses thanks to his Moti Tond

[Paan Singh]

he is right,others all also responsible

[IND_PAK]

Kamran Akmal again
jaan lelo bacche ki.

[SpArK]

There are few things need to sort out , the openers Ahmad shehzad and hafeez has failed so far with few low scores, even against minnows.

Also Pakistan should choose regular opening bowl partner for Akhtar.. Razzaq should be the third or fourth bowler.
His figures so far reads 21-4-111-1 which is not a good sign...

I would like him as an opener along with a stable opner like misbah .. shehzad can join afridi for later fireworks.

[Rafael]

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Loved the comments on cricinfo:

"We must first pay tribute to the man who made it all possible – the Maharajah of Missed Chances, the Don Corleone of Dropped Catches, the Earl of Err, the Pharaoh of Fumble, Lance Corporal Granite Hands himself, Kamran Akmal."

AND

All of this gives some credence to the age-old cricketing adage that schoolmaster have barked at their pupils ever since the game began: “It is definitely a good idea not to miss two facile chances that a Venezuelan schoolgirl could have taken when a key opposition batsman has just come to the wicket.