'Out of favour' wicket-keeper Akmal calls on PCB to launch Pakistan Premier League

Karachi, Jan 22(ANI): Out of favour Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal has called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to launch the Pakistan Premier League (PPL) along similar lines as the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the Big Bash (BBL).

"We are seeing these Twenty20 competitions being launched around the world now, featuring some of the best players from all over the globe. The BPL is the latest such venture and I would urge the PCB to finalise and launch a similar competition," PakPassion.net quoted Akmal, as saying.

"I know that our board is working very hard to finalise the PPL and I feel that it would be a major boost for Pakistan cricket if and when such a competition was launched. Under the previous Chairman Ijaz Butt there was talk of the PPL being finalised but now with the new Chairman Zaka Ashraf in place, hopefully we will see the PPL launched soon," he added.

Akmal, who has not played for Pakistan since the World Cup semi final in 2011, said he was enjoying his stint with the Dhaka Premier League.

He also admitted that the standard of domestic cricket in Bangladesh is gradually improving and tournaments like the Dhaka Premier League would definitely boost the cricketing standards in the country.

Kamran also praised his brother Adnan for his scintillating performance against England in the first Test but stressed that Adnan is just one member of a combined team effort in the UAE. (ANI)