A very bright and well spoken individual who gave Pakpassion.net the opportunity to interview him. He is desperately seeking to secure a contract with an English club for the next season while constantly knocking on the door of Pakistan's selectors with his impressive performances.
Pakpassion.Net - Which club are you currently playing for in England?
Adnan Akmal - I'm playing for Nottingham in their premier league. I have played a total of three matches since the start of my contract. It's been a good experience - I have always wanted to play here and gain the experience of playing in English conditions.
Allah has granted me this opportunity and I have performed well, so far I have scored in the 80s, 50s and a 20 in the three matches that I have played.
Pakpassion.Net - Are you playing as a wicket keeper for your Nottingham team and what position do you bat?
Adnan Akmal - Yes, I'm playing as a wicketkeeper batmen coming in at No.4 - they have given their regular keeper a break and have been impressed with my wicket keeping abilities so far.
The coach has complemented me and has even told my team mates to watch and learn from the Pakistani wicket keeper's glove work - they have a lot of trust in me.
Pakpassion.Net - How did you get into playing cricket and who inspired you?
Adnan Akmal - My family have been very helpful and supportive. Watching my brother play more and more gave me the inspiration to play cricket regularly. I channeled this inspiration towards hard work and determination. Allah has rewarded for my efforts and allowed me to perform well as a cricketer.
Pakpassion.Net - What's the age gap between you and Kamran?
Adnan Akmal - He is 3 years older then me.
Pakpassion.Net - How long are you going to play in England for?
Adnan Akmal - I'm hoping to be back in Pakistan before Ramadan starts. I take great pride in fasting. Ramadan start's around the 16th of September so I am hoping to be back in Lahore for the 10th of September.
Pakpassion.Net - Have you had any offers from the board regarding 'A' team matches?
Adnan Akmal - I am always working hard on my cricket and wicket keeping in general. I have great aspirations to play for Pakistan one day but am finding it difficult - I get the impression that the board will not grant one house or family the honour of representing the country at the same time.
My brother has to perform well in his matches and make a name for himself, I have to also perform in my matches and hope to one day be in a position to represent Pakistan and make it shine.
Pakpassion.Net - Is it true that you were touted as a pure wicket keeper / batsmen for the national team before your brother ?
Adnan Akmal - Well, it happened like this - we both received a message from the board to make our way to a PCB camp, we both packed our kitbags and off we went. There was some confusion as the board was saying that I had made it in the list of probable players while at the same time people within the team were telling us differently.
Any how, in the end it was my brother who was selected due to his experience - but it's great, whatever he learns from his international experience, he passes onto me.
Pakpassion.Net - The PCB recently handed out central contracts to young player's - have you been approached?
Adnan Akmal - The PCB have given central contracts to some younger players but my name was not on the list of wicket keepers. This is really making me feel down at the moment, I have a good first class record - I've got 11 catches in one match and have made 48 catches in 11 matches. I have also scored runs.
If a team is looking for a pure wicket keeper, they need to look at his catching stats - the runs i score are just a bonus.
Check out my stats on the internet.
Pakpassion.Net - Do you bowl at all?
Adnan Akmal - (Laughs) no no, I'm a professional wicket keeper / batsman - I have never taken an interest in bowling. Wicket keeping is what interests me about cricket.
Pakpassion.Net- What's your most memorable match?
Adnan Akmal - It has to be against the National bank team. I batted at No.4 and scored 88 runs against test players like Wasim Khan and Mohammed Sami to name a few.
Another match has to be against the Karachi side in which I nearly broke the record for the highest number of dismissal ever taken in a first class match in Pakistan. I managed to take 11 catches in that match, just 1 catch short of the record (which was 12).
It was also a pitch where teams were totalling 150 per innings and I scored in the 40's. I honestly believe that I am the best wicket keeper in Pakistan at the moment, but what can I do? I'm just not getting to play in big matches! Maybe I'm not worthy.
Maybe I should quit cricket altogether. Yet, still I try and work hard on my wicket keeping and hope one day Allah the almighty grants me the chance to play for Pakistan.
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Pakpassion.Net - If you did decided to give up playing cricket professionally, what other avenues would you follow?
Adnan Akmal - Oh, please don't ask me that question! Cricket is everything to me. I've put my life into it - I practice hard and have got to this point so far, so I will keep playing.
Pakpassion.Net - So how do you like Nottingham?
Adnan Akmal - I have not familiarised myself with Nottingham that much. I am sharing a flat with Mansoor Amjad in Leicestershire.
It's my first time in England, so I am a little clueless about making my way around and living here in general. Living with Mansoor has been a great help to me and my Nottingham manager has also been very kindly picking me up and drop me off for the matches.
Pakpassion.Net - How have your Nottingham team mates been treating you?
Adnan Akmal - They are a brilliant bunch of guys, my west Indian coach (Jacko) and the club manager (Brenden) have been to ever so supportive towards me, there are also lots of Pakistani lads playing for the club! I never imagined I would get this much respect and love a from a cricket club.
Pakpassion.Net - Who are your favourite cricketers?
Adnam Akmal - I love wicket keeping, so naturally my favourites are all wicket keepers like Rashid bhai (Rashid Latif), Moin Bhai, (Moin Khan), Adam Gilchrist. Any wicket keeper really, as I try and learn from the best and emulate their technique when I'm behind the stumps.
Pakpasion.Net - What are you views on the difference between the domestic setup in England compared to the domestic setup in Pakistan.
Adnan Akmal - From my point of view, there is much more talent in Pakistan but they don't know how to nurture it. The difference in England is that they have the knowledge and the facilities to work on player improvement, even though they don't quite have the talent.
In Pakistan, players are wasted if they end up being trained by inexperienced coaches. I pray that all good players get to work with good coaches.
Pakpassion.Net - Do you listen to music.
Adnan Akmal - Yes, I like bollywood music and I especially like to listen to Nusfat Fateh Ali Khan - I'm a big fan.
Pakpassion.Net - Your favourite Bollywood actor/actress?
Adnan Akmal - Sharukh Khan & Katrina Kaif
Pakpassion.Net - What's your favourite food.
Adnan Akmal - I like eating vegetarian and Chinese dishes, I'm not a big fan of meat and spicy dishes
