Kamran Akmal made his first-class debut at the age of 15 as a useful wicketkeeper and a hard-hitting opening batsman. A string of good performances earned him a spot for Pakistan A in 2002, and after impressing against Sri Lanka A he won selection for the Zimbabwe tour in preference to the veteran 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. Initially his opportunities were limited, most of his matches coming when Latif or Moin were unavailable - he was the replacement when Latif was suspended for five one-dayers against Bangladesh, and then again when Moin was injured for the last two Tests against India. However, from October 2004, with Latif out of favour and Moin no longer at his peak, Akmal became Pakistan's first-choice wicketkeeper; he responded with a magnificent showing with the gloves in Australia that winter despite enduring criticism at home and calls for the return of Moin and Latif. But in 2005, Akmal silenced those calls as well; as well as maintaining a high standard behind the stumps, he scored five international centuries. Three came in ODIs as opener and two from the lower-middle order in Tests against India and England. The first Test century saved the Mohali Test while the second, a blistering knock, came in Pakistan's emphatic, series-sealing win at Lahore. The year, unquestionably, confirmed him as Pakistan's number one, as well as establishing him as among the brightest young talents in the world game. He began 2006 as he ended 2005; two hundreds against India and both, for varying reasons, were special. The first, at Lahore, was the fastest Test hundred by a wicketkeeper. The second, on a seaming first day green-top at Karachi, not only saved Pakistan from the depths of 39 for 6, eventually leading to a thumping win, but is unlikely to be forgotten by anyone who saw it. Since then, he has experienced a horrendously lean patch, culminating in a horror show in England and South Africa, where he shelled catches, fumbled takes and didn't score runs. As Pakistan toyed with the idea of resting him, he responded, improving his glovework enough to have a decent World Cup behind the stumps. In front of it, his batting continued to suffer and the sustained slump over the year meant that as Pakistan entered another new era after the tournament, his position as number one was more in doubt than at any stage over the previous two years.
Osman Samiuddin
April 2007

• Ganguly named Asian Cricketer of the Year (Jun 28, 2008)
  
• Akmal left out of Asia Cup probables (Jun 19, 2008)
  
• Younis gets off the mark (Jun 14, 2008)
  
• Ashraf blasts Pakistan for 'embarrassing loss' (Jun 12, 2008)
  
• Akmal and Butt set up 23-run victory (Apr 13, 2008)
  

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Jun 14, 2008 Irfan Pathan had Kamran Akmal caught behind © AFP

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