Pakistan may boycott ICC awards over Ajmal exclusion: Zaka Ashraf

Despite written complaint lodged by PCB, Saeed Ajmal was not added to ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award shortlist.

KARACHI: Following the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) refusal to rethink the exclusion of Saeed Ajmal in the ICC awards shortlist for Test Cricketer of the Year, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf has hinted at a possible boycott of the awards function by Pakistani players in protest, reports espncricinfo.com

Ashraf, in an interview, reopened the debate saying: "We are facing a lot of pressure from the public and from our former players to push for his inclusion."

"I think the ICC should check whether the independent jury is coming up with the best name and they should not give away the due right of any player in the world,” he added.

He went a step further, urging the ICC to rectify the jury’s decision, saying: "If anyone else has more wickets than Ajmal, then we are ready to withdraw our concern and instead we will support their pick.”

"Meanwhile we probably have to give a second thought to even boycott the function as a robust protest," stated the PCB chairman.

Earlier, despite a written complaint lodged by the PCB, Saeed Ajmal was not added to the shortlist for the Test Cricketer of the Year award.

Ajmal, who made it to the nominations but lost out to Michael Clarke, Kumar Sangakkara, Vernon Philander and Hashim Amla in the shortlist, picked up 72 wickets from 12 Tests played in the qualifying period and the PCB had expressed its disappointment after he failed to make the cut.

The ICC, however, had confirmed that changes to the shortlist will not be possible now and the list remained final.

He was, however, named in the ICC Team of the Year shortlist; the only Pakistani to have made it into the particular list.

Former Pakistani players urge ICC award boycott

Former Pakistan players also urged the boycott on Thursday.

"The way the ICC has ignored Ajmal is unjust and the PCB must convey its reservations by boycotting the awards ceremony in Sri Lanka," former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif told AFP.

"Ajmal deserved to be on the shortlist and his omission is unjust."

Former batsman Basit Ali urged the PCB not to accept the decision.

"The decision to leave out Ajmal is inexplicable and Pakistan must not attend the ceremony," he said.

Mohsin Khan, the former opener who coached the team that beat England this year, said the selection process should not come down to personal preferences.

"This ICC process to shortlist players is clearly flawed because cricket is all about performance, not personal likes and dislikes. Better if the PCB boycotts the awards function," Khan said.

"It will at least send out a strong message to the ICC. South Africa also did it in 2009 when their deserving players were ignored for the awards."