Former Pakistan cricketers Kamran Akmal and Basit Ali made strange comments about Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa on live television during PSL 2026. The two discussed why Zampa never played Test cricket for the Australia national cricket team despite his success in the white-ball format.
Zampa has been a key player for Australia in the limited overs formats. The leg spinner won the T20 World Cup 2021 and Cricket World Cup 2023. However, the 34-year-old has never played a Test match and has not been active in domestic first-class cricket due to commitments with Australia’s white-ball teams.
He was refused by Marcus Stoinis – Basit Ali
Former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has expressed surprise about Australian selection policies. Akmal praised Adam Zampa’s impressive bowling skills and questioned why Cricket Australia overlooked him for Test selection.
“If we talk about Adam Zampa, I was surprised that he did not play a Test match? Such tremendous bowling, line and length, googly, flipper, all… I am surprised that Cricket Australia did not look at him for Test cricket.” [If we talk about Adam Zampa, I was surprised that he didn’t play Test cricket. Such excellent bowling – line and length, googly, flipper, everything… I am surprised that Cricket Australia didn’t consider him for Test cricket]”
Basit Ali ignored cricket logic and bizarrely claimed that Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis had stopped Adam Zampa from playing Test cricket for Australia.
“He was refused by Stoinis [Stoinis stopped him’,” Ali stated.
Akmal: “I’m surprised Adam Zampa never played Tests for Australia.”
Basit Ali: “Marcus Stoinis asked him not to play.”
Anchor: “That’s their personal matter.”
Coming from a former international cricketer, how can you be so cheap on television? pic.twitter.com/JTPhpAjrwL
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) April 3, 2026
Adam Zampa never played test cricket
Adam Zampa missed Test cricket mainly due to his white-ball commitments. He played 41 first-class matches for New South Wales, taking 115 wickets. However, his high bowling average of 46 prevented him from making his international Test debut.
In October 2025, Zampa admitted that he had given up his dream of playing Test cricket. Now at the age of 33, he is looking to build on his successful white-ball career. Cricket Australia has signed him as a white-ball specialist for the 2026–27 season.
Since the retirement of Shane Warne, Zampa has been Australia’s most successful limited overs leg spinner. He has almost 200 ODI wickets and is close to reaching 150 wickets in T20Is, highlighting his dominance in white-ball cricket.
The Australian leg spinner is currently playing for Karachi Kings in PSL 2026. He has taken three wickets in three matches at an average of 21.67 and an economy rate of 5.42, including best figures of 2-11.
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