Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has spoken about Arshdeep Singh’s mistake with the bat during the first ODI against the Sri Lanka national cricket team. He said that the player should have blocked the ball and that he did not expect him to make a mistake.

Indian national cricket team fast bowler Arshdeep Singh became the villain after the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka. The match between the teams, which took place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, ended in a draw due to India performing poorly with the bat.

India was set to reach 231 runs and they got off to a bright start with the bat, adding 75 runs for the opening pair. However, after that, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and came under pressure as the Sri Lankan bowlers wove the net around the batsmen and put their team on top.

Shivam Dube played well and got the spinners to take the team close to the target. But with 1 run remaining, he got out and Arshdeep Singh came out to bat with 14 balls to spare. The Indian player was expected to go for the single and help his team win the game, but that was not to be.

Arshdeep Singh, instead of taking the single, opted for a stumping and got an LBW, thus the match ended in a draw. The Indian dressing room looked dejected as they did not expect to lose the game by winning.

Speaking on the same, Kamran Akmal claimed that Arshdeep Singh should have defended the ball and Mohammed Siraj, who was batting well at the other end, would have won the game for the team. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:

“You see, the job Arshdeep Singh has done, 13 or 14 balls. If there is one ball to win the match, then you take the risk. 13 or 14 balls, Kuldeep is bowling in front of you. Like Siraj just stopped. He was playing with the bat. You just had to stop the ball. There were so many balls that Siraj would have done that. Or you too, at the other end, Wellalage, would not have come forward. Or the fast bowler would have come.

“The runs would have come automatically. If you face a spin bowler and you keep your leg down and hit, then you are out. Aur ye kaam, Arshdeep Singh paaji, umeed nahi si tussi aise kroge. (And this job, brother Arshdeep Singh, I did not expect you to do.) But anyway, there is no problem. The match should not have gone this far. But next time, if this happens, then those runs cannot be made.”

It is better to hit from the front and with a full face – Arshdeep Singh

Kamran Akmal further stated that Arshdeep Singh should have hit with his full face instead of attempting a sweep. He stated that both teams played good cricket and stressed that India will not make any mistakes in the second game. He stated:

“It’s better to hit it straight ahead, straight ahead. Mid-on is also up. Mid-off is also up. Midwicket is also not there. So it will automatically go from the top. Keep leg and hit Sslog sweep, the risk increases on that, and then it becomes a bit difficult. Anyway, some good cricket was played.

“But now we have to see how India, Sri Lanka recover. They will not repeat the mistake. They will work and recover. They have become a great team because of this. So now we will see how well Sri Lanka does. How many mistakes they reduce in the next ODI match.”