LAHORE: Pakistan Coach Mickey Arthur has poured cold water over aspirationsof the PSL lead run scorer Kamran Akmal.

Arthur chose to not put his weight behind Kamran Akmal despite the Zalmiopener’s blistering back-to-back performances in the ongoing Pakistan SuperLeague.

Akmal, who has now become the leading run scorer of PSL, made 77 off 27deliveries to propel defending champions Peshawar Zalmi into the PSL final,as they beat Karachi Kings by 13 runs at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore onWednesday.

Akmal played for Pakistan in the series against West Indies in April 2017,making a return to the national squad after becoming the top run-scorer inthe last PSL tournament. But he has not been part of the national squadsince then.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Arthur complimented the Zalmiopener by saying that “he batted outstandingly, and is a really goodbatsman”, but then immediately questioned Akmal’s fielding talent.

“To play international cricket you have got to be able to do threedisciplines very well. He was poor in the field in the last West Indiestour,” said the Pakistan coach.