Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal has gone after India’s Ishan Kishan for asking for a break due to mental fatigue from the Indian team management when the Men in Blues were on duty during the month-long tour of South Africa where they played 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is and 2 Tests.
Ishan Kishan had initially traveled with the team to the Rainbow Nation but he was later withdrawn by BCCI after he asked them to allow him to leave and spend time with his family. He stated that constant traveling has put a toll on his mental health and that he desperately needed a break.
However, Kishan then went to Dubai for his brother’s birthday party instead of getting back to India. That infuriated the BCCI who questioned his discipline internally before not giving him a recall for the 3 T20Is against Afghanistan as well as the Test series against England later this month.
Head coach Rahul Dravid had claimed that Ishan Kishan doesn’t have any disciplinary issues and that he must play some Ranji Trophy cricket before returning to India colors. Though Kishan has still not made himself available for Jharkhand and there is very little clarity as to when he will give the green light to play the tournament.
In the meantime, Pakistan’s former wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal openly called out Kishan for wanting a break at such a juncture of his career where he is just 25 years of age. Akmal said that he should learn something from his seniors, Rohit, Kohli, and Bumrah who constantly play all 3 formats without asking for a break.
“There has been talk about Ishan Kishan being released from the Test squad in South Africa to deal with mental fatigue. At this early stage of your career, what mental fatigue can you have? In this team, there are the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, who also deal with fatigue. They play the IPL, international matches, including Test matches. Have never heard of players taking a break due to this reason,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel.
