Riaz dropped as precaution: PCB

Board seeks clearance after bowler named during hearing.

KARACHI/LAHORE: The decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to omit fast-bowler Wahab Riaz from the limited-overs squad to take on Sri Lanka was taken as a precautionary measure after his name came up in the spot-fixing hearing.

It has been reliably learnt that Riaz was initially named in the squad but the selectors had to make last-minute changes after instruction by the top PCB management. Riaz was named along with Kamran Akmal in the controversy involving Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and the duo, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC), will be further investigated.

“The decision was taken as precaution,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “We’ll seek clearance from the ICC on the players named in the scandal before clearing them to play. We can’t afford to take any risks.”

A selector, however, tried to play down the issue by saying that Riaz’s omission was due to Junaid Khan’s, another left-arm fast-bowler, good show in the ongoing Test series.Meanwhile, the squad also includes former captain Shahid Afridi and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq who will be making a comeback to the national team. The squad, according to former chief selector Iqbal Qasim, is strong enough to beat Sri Lanka.

“The team is playing well and the inclusion of Afridi, Razzaq and Umar Akmal will make it stronger,” he said. “A selector looks at the current form of players and they showed their form in the Hong Kong Sixes. It is a good mix.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th,  2011.