Unanswered omission: Wahab sliding into oblivion
PCB remains mum on fast-bowler’s continuous snub leaving his career in limbo.
KARACHI:
His heroics in Mohali were deemed enough to guarantee him a place in the playing-eleven for months to come, especially after the team had lost another performing left-armer to the world of crooks.
However, the spot-fixing hearing in London – that led to prison sentences for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – heard his and Kamran Akmal’s name come up, labelled by the former agent Mazhar Majeed as fixers working for him. Although Akmal was already sidelined for his below-par performances, the sudden snub of Riaz concerned many.
He was rested for the tour of Zimbabwe but was recalled for the Test series against Sri Lanka in the UAE with the tour coinciding with the trial. Riaz sat out the entire series and was dropped for the subsequent limited-overs leg, then overlooked for the tour of Bangladesh as well.
Initially, the team management insisted the squad had adequate options but Riaz’s snub, despite injuries to fast-bowler Junaid Khan and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, brought up the question again. According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, Riaz has been sidelined as a precaution in order to avoid further shame after the trio’s verdict. There are also reports that the board is awaiting clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC) before allowing him to return to the national squad.
However, the absence of any sort of reasoning from the PCB has worried – and annoyed – many, with one of its officials wanting the concerned individuals to ‘leave the issue for some days’ when asked.
“To my understanding, there is lack of evidence supporting a legal case against him but there are strong doubts and that is why the PCB is waiting for a clearance,” the official added before another confirmed that Scotland Yard cleared Riaz and Akmal without any charges last year.
Riaz had earlier rejected the Big Bash League to be available for Pakistan but is reportedly reconsidering his options now.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2011.
His heroics in Mohali were deemed enough to guarantee him a place in the playing-eleven for months to come, especially after the team had lost another performing left-armer to the world of crooks.
However, the spot-fixing hearing in London – that led to prison sentences for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – heard his and Kamran Akmal’s name come up, labelled by the former agent Mazhar Majeed as fixers working for him. Although Akmal was already sidelined for his below-par performances, the sudden snub of Riaz concerned many.
He was rested for the tour of Zimbabwe but was recalled for the Test series against Sri Lanka in the UAE with the tour coinciding with the trial. Riaz sat out the entire series and was dropped for the subsequent limited-overs leg, then overlooked for the tour of Bangladesh as well.
Initially, the team management insisted the squad had adequate options but Riaz’s snub, despite injuries to fast-bowler Junaid Khan and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, brought up the question again. According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, Riaz has been sidelined as a precaution in order to avoid further shame after the trio’s verdict. There are also reports that the board is awaiting clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC) before allowing him to return to the national squad.
However, the absence of any sort of reasoning from the PCB has worried – and annoyed – many, with one of its officials wanting the concerned individuals to ‘leave the issue for some days’ when asked.
“To my understanding, there is lack of evidence supporting a legal case against him but there are strong doubts and that is why the PCB is waiting for a clearance,” the official added before another confirmed that Scotland Yard cleared Riaz and Akmal without any charges last year.
Riaz had earlier rejected the Big Bash League to be available for Pakistan but is reportedly reconsidering his options now.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2011.