England Cricket Board

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has endorsed Michael Vaughan‘s controversial remark that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is preferable to playing against Pakistan given the team’s performance in the recent past.Vaughan’s statement stirred debate, with the ex-Pakistan player aligning with his sentiment. While Vaughan’s comment drew criticism for its insensitivity towards international cricket, it also reflects the IPL’s stature as a premier T20 league.Former England skipper Vaughan’s comment was made in relation to the ongoing T20I series between Pakistan and England.He suggested that the England Cricket Board (ECB) should have permitted its players to participate in the IPL rather than returning for the Pakistan series.Vaughan argued that playing in the IPL would have provided better preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This perspective underscores the growing significance of franchise-based leagues like the IPL in shaping players’ skills and readiness for international tournaments, sparking discussions about the balance between league commitments and national team duties. In a recent video on his YouTube channel ‘Catch And Bat with Kamran Akmal’, he echoed Vaughan’s sentiments, expressing agreement with the notion that Pakistan’s recent performances have been disappointing. He went on to describe the IPL as “tough and quality cricket,” emphasising the competitive nature of the tournament.Akmal’s endorsement of Vaughan’s viewpoint further underscores the acknowledgment within the cricketing community of the IPL’s prominence and the challenges it presents.“Over the past few days, I have wondered why a former England captain is commenting and taking Pakistan cricket non-seriously. It has been a painful thought, but I think he was correct in his assessment,” Akmal said.“Everybody knows the level of Pakistan cricket. We are losing against smaller teams like Ireland and in that sense Vaughan said that it is not a tough series. So the fault is ours. Had it been any other team like New Zealand, South Africa and India then Vaughan would not have said it.We need to understand that in IPL, the best bowlers and batters are participating with crowds of 40 to 50,000. So it is tough cricket and quality cricket,” Akmal explained. Michael Vaughan Ki Statement se Mein Agree Karta Hon | Kamran Akmal Akmal additionally suggested that Pakistan should leverage Vaughan’s comments as ‘motivation’ heading into the T20 World Cup.“The state of Pakistan cricket may be in need of a revamp, but this also presents an opportunity for growth. How do we respond to Vaughan’s critique? By showing our mettle in the upcoming T20 series against England. Let’s use this as a catalyst to regain our confidence and competitiveness, lest even teams like the USA start to see us as an easy target.”“The Pakistan cricket Chairman is to blame for all of this as he has completely ruffled the system. For now it remains to be seen if Pakistan team rises to the situation or keeps playing in the same zone as they have done till now,” he concluded.