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Melbourne: His place in the team is uncertain after the dismay performance in Sydney, but under-fire Pakistan stumper Kamran Akmal claims he has the support of his team-mates and is confident of playing in the third Test against Australia in Hobart starting on Thursday.
Akmal said he is expecting to take part in the final Test as a specialist glovesman, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board rushing Sarfraz Ahmed as his replacement for the game.
"I was very successful with my batting and wicket keeping on the New Zealand tour and before the New Zealand tour. So I was very happy. But I think the third day of the Sydney Test match was not good for me this happens," he was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.
"I'm very keen. My confidence is very high. Inshallah, definitely, for this upcoming Test match, I will perform very well.
"Management is very confident for me and coaches, Intikhab Alam, Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed, and my teammates also. I will play the third Test match and more matches for my country," he said.
Akmal dropped as many as four catches and missed a run out chance during the third day of the second Test, which played a crucial part in Pakistan's devastating 36-run loss at the hands of Australia in Sydney.
But the 27-year-old wicket-keeper batsman said it was just an off-day for him which any cricketer has to face in his or her career.
"I've been picked for the Pakistan team for the past ten years and for the last eight years I've been playing as wicketkeeper/batsman.
"I know the people are very disappointed for this performance in the Sydney Test match - definitely back home is very crazy. My feeling is also very bad after the Sydney Test match because I think four dropped catches is enough," Akmal said.
"I'm concentrating on calming down and performing well in the next Test match. It was a bad day, the third day of the Sydney Test, I think it is my worst day.
"But it is equal for any cricketer. Ricky Ponting is one of the best batsman but he's not getting too many runs at the moment," he added.
Akmal said he has left behind the Sydney debacle and is now concentrating on the next game with former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy helping him with his glove work.
