After being named on the national selection committee, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Kamran said that he had taken this decision with immediate effect since he had also taken up coaching as a profession.
“I don’t think after you come into coaching or become a national selector you can focus on playing,” he said.
Kamran featured in 268 international matches for Pakistan until 2017 before being dropped by Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi for the 8th season and instead signed the wicketkeeper to be on its coaching staff.
Speaking on Babar Azam, Kamran said that he had a lot of respect for the latter’s cricketing prowess.
“He is one our great batters and my job as selector and as coach in Zalmi is to help him fine tune himself as a captain and as a batsman. But he has no flaws in his batting this we have seen over the years.”
Kamran said that his younger brother Umar Akmal would have to perform consistently and also prove his fitness to be considered for national selection again.