Sharjah: Kamran Akmal, who cracked the only century in the third edition of the Pakistan Super League, has repeatedly proved to be a match-winner for the Peshawar Zalmi team. Though everyone lauds his tremendous form, his performance does not guarantee him a place in the Pakistan national team.

His belligerent unbeaten 106 studded with seven sixes and 11 boundaries came off just 61 balls. Towards the end of the innings he had to battle the severe pain of cramps and was limping while playing his shots. Still he managed to hit sixes and boundaries while racing to his century.

Since April 2017, the wicketkeeper-batsman has not been considered for the national team as the role of wicketkeeper is being handled by Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmad.

For 36-year-old Akmal, age stands as a barrier for him to get a nod into Pakistan team.

For Akmal it was an emotional moment after completing his century. His knock reflected his fighting spirit. After receiving the man of the match award and putting Peshawar in the play offstage, he said: “I just try to give 100 per cent in every match. My family is here and it feels good to score in front of them. Yesterday (against Karachi Kings) and today (against Lahore) I contributed to the victory. The team management gave me the confidence since the last season and I am happy to repay them.”

Akmal has been making his bat do all the talking. He was the player of the tournament in last year’s PSL. He smashed a Pakistan record of 150 in the National Twenty20 and 200 in departmental one-day event recently. Yet Mickey Arthur, the coach of the Karachi team, who is also the coach of the national team, when asked about Akmal feels that this prolific run getter may not be able to find a place in the national team.

“Look, you never say never. I think, to be brutally honest, we have a young team and we are looking forward. He (Akmal) played terrific today but again the old comes back,” Arthur remarked referring to Akmal’s age.

“Where does he field with Sarfraz (Ahmad) as wicketkeeper? asked Arthur, “There are a lot of things to weigh up. We have got a Twenty20 side that is No. 1 in the world and there are not going to be many changes.”

Peshawar captain Darren Sammy was also asked whether Akmal should be in the Pakistan team. “If you are performing then you are in the selectors’ eyes and that’s all Kami (Akmal) has to do. The focus now for him is Peshawar and to win us matches,” said Sammy, who went on to praise his match winner.

“I have always been a fan of Kamran. You know, I think a few years back when Misbah played for St Lucia Zouks, where I was captain, I have always admired him (Misbah) as a captain and he would always say that one thing that Imran Khan had told him was ‘you never drop your match winners’ and I see Kamran Akmal as a match winner in any team he plays,” said Sammy.