Take Kamran Akmal off the team!

Akmal needs to be taken off the team - enough is enough.

Kamran Akmal put up a disgraceful performance in the match against New Zealand. There used to be a time when inspired experts called him Pakistan’s Adam Gilchrist – but nothing could be more insulting to Gilchrist than comparing butterfingers with him.

I have little doubt that if Pakistan is to get anywhere in this World Cup, it must drop Kamran Akmal from the starting line-up. He is no good with the bat and I’d rather not play a wicket-keeper than have Akmal behind the stumps.

His performances since 2006 have been on a consistent and constant decline. It was on the tour to England that year when butterfingers’ problems, and Pakistan’s quagmire, began. It is hard to believe that such a player can still find himself in the playing 11, let alone the squad, when he has consistently dropped catches, leaked runs and has never been able to compensate his shoddiness behind the stumps with the bat.

The think-tank of the Pakistan cricket team needs to take note of this horrendous display and drop Akmal immediately, replacing him with Asad Shafiq in the line-up and with Umar Akmal behind the stumps. A non-regular keeper will still be a better choice than Akmal.

For obvious reasons had Akmal caught those catches of Shoaib Akhtar, the match would have had a different outlook. Not only did Akmal drop those catches, he also dented the confidence of the team in general and of the bowler in particular.

Taylor went on to make a spectacular 131 runs and remained not out. Pakistan have now faced their first defeat this tournament.

And I think it is fair to cast blame on Kamran Akmal.

Shame on him!