Despite a record breaking performance form Peshawar Zalmi opener Kamran Akmal, the player has failed to change the perception of Pakistan national coach Mickey Arthur.
Akmal played a blistering knock of 77 runs off 27 deliveries, including Pakistan Super League's fastest half-century off 17 balls. Although praising Akmal's performance with the bat, Arthur remained unsatisfied with his wicketkeeper skills behind the stumps.
"Akmal played very well [but] to play international cricket, you've got to do well in three different disciplines. He's batted outstandingly and is a really good batsman. But the same thing as last time, where does he field? Sarfraz is the keeper. He was poor in the field in West Indies and I'm not sure too much has changed," said Arthur at the post match conference.
The Zalmis went on to beat Karachi Kings by 13 runs in a cracking encounter Wednesday night and booked their place in the finals of PSL. The reigning champions will be facing the Islamabad United for the title.
The Karachi Kings coach further said that his side missed the services of skipper Imad Wasim and star all rounder Shahid Afridi, who were both injured and didn’t participate in the second eliminator.
“I think we were ravaged by injuries. The injuries to Afridi and Imad are massive. When we sat down and made plans, we picked them to control the middle over and for Imad to bowl a couple of overs in the powerplay. So we lost two massive international players and that scuppered our plans a bit," he added.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar Zalmi will take on Islamabad United at the PSL finals on Sunday at Karachi.
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