Kamran Akmal ready to play as specialist batsman

	Kamran Akmal scored a pair and made several errors with the gloves in the first Test against England © Getty Images

Kamran Akmal, the Pakistan wicketkeeper, has said he has ironed out technical flaws in his glovework and is determined to make a comeback behind the stumps, but is ready to play even as a specialist batsman if required. Kamran made several wicket-keeping errors on Pakistan's tour of England in August and was dropped for the second Test against the hosts. He played the last two Tests and the one-dayers but was left out of the squad for the series against South Africa.

"I've addressed some of the basics, especially those things that went wrong for me in England," Kamran told PakPassion.net. "I've watched a lot of the videos and we've analysed some of the errors. I've been working hard with the National Bank coaches and have received sound advice from ex-cricketers like Ijaz Ahmed and Waqar Younis [the national coach]."

Kamran, who was replaced by Zulqarnain Haider for the ODIs and younger brother Adnan Akmal for the Tests against South Africa, has scored 530 runs at an average of 75.71 for National Bank in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season, including his maiden first-class double-century against Fasialabad. Pakistan's selection committee are due to meet soon to choose the squads for the tour of New Zealand, which starts with the first of three Twenty20 internationals on December 23, as well as the preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup, and Kamran is hopeful that his domestic performances will earn him a recall.

"When I wasn't chosen for the series versus South Africa, I decided that I would look to regain my form and confidence in domestic cricket," he said. "I've managed to score plenty of runs and I have been happy with my form behind the stumps.

"My dropping was up to the PCB and the selectors, and was out of my control. They choose who they think deserves a chance and I have no problem with that. I am more determined than ever to reclaim my place in the Pakistan side and I am comfortable if the selectors and management want me to play as a keeper or purely as a batsman."

Kamran underwent a minor appendix operation before the UAE tour but was fit when Adnan was picked for the Tests following Haider's controversial exit from the side. There was some speculation that his exclusion from the squad may have been linked to the spot-fixing scandal. He was sent a notice by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACSU) after the Nottingham Test seeking information about events related to the 2010 World Twenty20 held in the Caribbean in May. Kamran was subsequently cleared for Pakistan selection after he sent an enquiry to the ICC asking if he was under investigation.

Akmal admitted it had been a hard few months for him but said he has the mental strength to bounce back. "Being dropped is not an easy thing to take," he said, "but I took it on the chin and decided that I would use my dropping from the team as a motivational tool. At this level, it's the mental side of the game that quite often causes mistakes or a loss of form. I needed to be mentally tougher and I've worked on that."

Bowlers dominate opening day

Quaid-E-Azam Trophy, Division 1, 5th round, 1st day

Eighteen wickets fell on the first day of the contest between Islamabad and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad. In conditions that proved a gift for fast bowlers, the batting line-ups of both teams crumbled but SNGPL performed marginally better to take an important 45-run lead with two wickets still in hand. The fast-bowling pair of Asad Ali (6 for 50) and Imran Ali (4 for 22) ran through the Islamabad line-up, sharing all ten wickets, and skittled out Islamabad for 97 in just under 29 overs. In their reply, SNGPL struggled to measure up to the medium pace of Fakhar Hussain, who bagged four wickets. But useful contributions from opener Yasir Arafat (39), Usman Arshad (32) and an unbeaten 32 from Khurram Shehzad guided SNGPL to 142 for 8 at stumps. On a day where only 219 runs were scored, extras made up for 39 of them.

Kamran Akmal helped end the first day of the contest between National Bank of Pakistan and Faisalabadin Sargodha on even terms. His unbeaten 135 helped NBP recover from trouble at 26 for 3, and he was helped by opener Rashid Riaz who contributed 77. The pair added 138 for the fourth wicket and Akmal, who batted fluently, consuming just 204 balls in his innings thus far, is left with the responsibility of ensuring his team gains control of the game from 276 for 6 at stumps. Part-time offspinner Hasan Mahmood picked up three wickets.

Pakistan International Airlines recovered to 224 for 4 at stumps on the opening day against Sialkot at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. Shoaib Malik, the former Pakistan captain, notched up a century and added 167 with captain Kamran Sajid for the fourth wicket after Sialkot had been reduced to 53 for 3 at one stage. Malik's was an attacking innings, laced with 16 fours and a six; his 102 came off just 117 balls. Sajid was unbeaten on 72 and his presence at the crease will be crucial if PIA are to build a more substantial score.

Karachi Blues capitulated against the pace bowling of Naved-ul-Hasan and Nawaz Sardar as Water and Power Development Authority took control at the National Stadium in Karachi. Only opener Naved Khan offered any significant resistance, fighting it out for 42 off 127 balls, while the rest, for the bulk, came and went. Naved-ul-Hasan, opening the bowling, grabbed 4 for 66 but it was Sardar's performance that stood out, as he caused early damage as well as ran through the tail. He picked up 4 for 5 in 7.5 overs, a spell that also piled on the pressure with four maidens. Karachi could only manage 128, and an unbeaten half-century from opener Rafatullah Mohmand set the foundation for a significant lead for WAPDA, who finished the day on 116 for 1.

Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited took control of their game against Multan at the end of the opening day at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Half-centuries from opener Zohaib Khan, who fell just three short of three figures, captain Imran Nazir, and allrounder Abdul Razzaq steered ZTBL to 325. Multan, for their part, did well with the ball, as seamer Abdur Rauf and Mazhar Bashir, with his offspin in his maiden first-class game, picked up four wickets each to keep ZTBL down to a score that would have meant things were pretty much even at the end of the innings. However, the game turned in ZTBL's favour when left-arm seamer Mohammad Khalil picked up two wickets in Multan's reply to leave them at stumps at 19 for 2.

A collective batting effort from Rawalpindi helped them reach 334 for 5 on the first day against Habib Bank Limited at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The effort centered around useful partnerships between the top and the middle orders. Naved Malik dominated an opening stand of 56 and added a further 73 with captain Babar Naeem, who top scored with 80. There was a slight wobble when three wickets fell for 46, but Muzammil Nizam, with an unbeaten 49, and wicketkeeper Jamal Anwar helped revive the innings with a still ongoing 71-run stand. Seamer Kamran Hussain took three wickets for HBL.

Aamer Hayat leads wicket-fest in Lahore

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Division Two, 5th round, 1st day

Seventeen wickets fell on the first day of the match between Lahore Ravi and Lahore Shalimar, leaving the match at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground evenly poised at stumps. The wicket-fest started with Lahore Shalimar's opening bowlers Aamer Hayat and Emmad Ali, who shared all ten wickets between them as they bowled Lahore Ravi out for 107. Fast bowler Hayat took his fifth five-wicket haul in just his 16th first-class match, finishing with 6 for 34. The Lahore Shalimar batsmen then squandered the advantage Hayat and Ali had given them, capitulating to 96 for 7 by the end of the day. Usman Salahuddin, who is at the top of the run charts in Division Two this season, was out for a duck as seamers Abdul Ghaffar and Asif Raza brought Lahore Ravi back into the match. The match is hurtling towards an early result, which would separate the two teams who are currently locked in third position on 18 points.

Khan Research Laboratories fast bowlers Mohammad Irfan and Jaffar Nazir bowled out Abbottabad for 123 to give the visitors the advantage on the first day at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. Abbottabad came into the match in second position in the Division Two table with 15 points more than fifth-placed KRL, but by the end of the day it was the lower-placed side that looked favourites in the match. Irfan, who is close to seven-foot tall, had a less than glorious introduction to international cricket in September, when the two ODIs he played for Pakistan in England saw him go for more than six runs an over, walk off injured on his debut and end up being publicly criticised by his captain Shahid Afridi for dropping a catch. He hasn't had the best domestic season this year either, but showed some of the qualities that earned him a national cap, on Monday, taking 5 for 45.

Irfan started Abbottabad's collapse by bowling opener Ghulam Mohammad and then trapping Abbottabad captain Wajid Ali in front of his stumps. From the other end, Jaffar dismissed Abbottabad's leading run-getter this season, opener Waqar Orakzai, among a haul of 4 for 40. Orakzai's 40 was Abbottabad's top score in an innings that lasted less than 46 overs. Abbottabad picked up two wickets before the close of play but with KRL on 52 for 2 are still in a poor position in the match.

Half-centuries by middle-order batsmen Wajihuddin and Abdul Jabbar resurrected Karachi Whites after they were put in to bat by Hyderabad at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex in Karachi. Karachi Whites finished at 251 for 4 but were struggling at 109 for 4 at one stage after offspinner Hanif-ur-Rehman had given Hyderabad two early wickets. Karachi Whites captain Shahzaib Hasan got a half-century, as well, but it was the 142-run stand between Wajihuddin, who is his team's leading run-getter this season, and Jabbar that built a solid base on which Karachi Whites can build tomorrow. Hyderabad are third from the bottom in the Division Two table while Karachi Whites' loss to State Bank of Pakistan in their last match has taken them down to sixth in the table.

Opener Imran Ali's century put Pakistan Television on top against Peshawar at the Arbab Niaz Stadium. Imran and Ammar Mahmood, who made 96, put together 181 runs for the second wicket after the hosts had put Pakistan Television in to bat, leading their team to a total of 254 for 4 at the close of play on the first day. Riaz Afridi, who is the leading wicket-taker in Division Two this season, picked up an early wicket and then two more late in the day to give Peshawar some respite. But, Peshawar, who are languishing at second from bottom in the table, will have their work cut out for them tomorrow as they try to restrict Pakistan Television to an attainable first innings score.

It was top versus bottom, as State Bank of Pakistan, who have won three of their four matches this season, took on Quetta, who have no points so far, at the Khan Research Laboratory Ground in Rawalpindi. The mismatch was evident in the first two sessions as SBP bowled Quetta out for 123, but the bottom side fought back in the latter half of the day, reducing SBP to 74 for 4 at stumps. Quetta seamer Arun Lal picked up two early wickets to startle SBP, who were in control of the match before they came out to bat. SBP fast bowler Mohammad Naved bagged his first five-wicket haul of the season, while offspinner Adnan Rasool took 3 for 23.