March 9: Angry fans voiced their anger on social networking site like Facebook and popular micro-blogging site Twitter with many of them calling for his head immediately. “He should be sacked from the team and sent back home at once. If required the management must make him fake a injury and call for a replacement. He is a total disaster for Pakistan cricket,” an angry fan wrote on his facebook page.
Another Pakistani fan, wrote on twitter “Has Kamran applied for political asylum in Sri Lanka?” referring to former wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider, who fled Pakistan’s team hotel in Dubai last year and sought asylum in Britain. One fan said on Twitter: “Has Shahid Afridi told Kamran that he has dropped the World Cup with two catches?”.
Others listed Kamran’s home address in Lahore, for fans to express their anger. Zafar Iqbal posted a message on Facebook: “World’s greatest birthday gift declared by Guinness — Kamran Akmal for Ross Taylor.”
Another Twitter message said: “Kamran thinks being a wicket-keeper means letting the batsman keep his wicket.” Another fan, Mohammad Parekh, asked: “What do Kamran and Michael Jackson have in common? They both wear gloves for no reason.”
Angry reactions from die-hard fans are common in the sub-continent. The most recent came when the West Indies team bus was stoned after they defeated co-hosts Bangladesh, in an apparent case of mistaken identity. Former captain Wasim Akram received death threats after his team lost the 1996 quarterfinal against India, while angry fans attacked the houses of Indian players following their first round exit in 2007 .
Ex-players also took aim at the hapless Kamran. “I only notice when Kamran performs well behind the stumps, bad wicket keeping is routine for him,” Rashid Latif said.