‘Selectors are influenced by match-fixers’

Omission of Karachi players due to clean background, claims KCCA.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s selection committee has come under heavy fire from the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) which has termed the omission of various Karachi-based players from the 30-man World Cup squad a way to promote match-fixing.

Notable omissions from the preliminary squad include Fawad Alam, Mohammad Sami and Khalid Latif, all of whom represented Pakistan in the last year.

However, according to the KCCA President Sirajul Islam Bukhari, the trio’s absence is because of their clean background.

“These players have a clean background which is why they haven’t been selected for the World Cup,” Bukhari told The Express Tribune. “The selection committee is under the influence of match-fixers and that’s the reason they’ve selected players with a questionable past.

“We see a gradual overlooking of Karachi players and it’s all because of the match-fixing issues. None of the cricketers coming under the scanner recently are from Karachi. Danish Kaneria [questioned by Scotland Yard] was the only one suspected but was cleared last year.”

Bukhari also questioned the continued omission of fast-bowler Sohail Khan who made his debut for Pakistan in 2008 but has failed to cement a regular spot in the squad.

Kamran Akmal, according to the KCCA president, was glaring proof of how suspected individuals keep returning to the squad.

“Akmal was a doubtful inclusion due to his alleged involvements with bookmakers and now he’s back in the squad despite being overlooked for the last two tours.

“I’m glad Shoaib Malik hasn’t been included otherwise things would’ve been worse for Pakistan cricket at a time when we’re already under so much scrutiny.”

Akmal is the second highest run-scorer in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy with 767 runs from nine matches while Malik has scored 745 in just five matches at an average of over 120.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2011.