Out of the bag: PCB chairman lets slip that Ajmal out of World Cup

The board had decided with the player to handle the situation with discretion

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan’s unfortunate habit of speaking out of turn has foiled the board’s plan of handling Saeed Ajmal’s expected exclusion from the 2015 World Cup 15-man squad with discretion.

Shaharyar has been on a ‘speaking spree’ in the last few days, discussing certain sensitive matters without thinking about the consequences, matters that include the statement that both Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez felt that they will have a more welcoming atmosphere in Chennai as compared to Loughborough or Cardiff.

In an interview with BBC Urdu, the chairman was quoted as saying that Ajmal has decided to withdraw himself from the World Cup.

BBC Urdu quoted Shaharyar as saying that Ajmal has decided to withdraw himself from the 2015 World Cup to be held in February. He added that the decision of not participating in the World Cup and not appearing for reassessment is Ajmal’s own.

A high-level meeting of PCB was held yesterday; attended by Shaharyar, Chairman Executive Committee Najam Sethi, PCB Chief Operating Officer CCO Subhan Ahmad, Chief Selector Moin Khan, Muhammad Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq and Ajmal.

According to a PCB press release, the group discussed the future course of action to be adopted with regards to Ajmal and Hafeez and agreed that in Ajmal’s case, further remedial work is required in collaboration with Saqlain and a biomechanist in Lahore.

The group was informed that Ajmal has made significant progress and will now be working on completing his ‘mileage’ with the remodelled action, which shall soon be accomplished.

“The PCB fully supports Ajmal in his attempt to regularise his action and to return to cricket as Pakistan’s top performer in the future,” read the press release.

It was noted in the meeting that Saqlain and Mushtaq Ahmed have both worked with Hafeez and his action should now be tested in an ICC-accredited lab. Therefore, Hafeez will make his way to Chennai next week for an unofficial testing of his bowling action.

The ruined plans

It was decided in the meeting that the PCB would praise and lend its support to Ajmal in his bid to make a comeback into international cricket, which was carried out through the press release.

The next step, which was to come in a day or two, was a statement from the selection committee that Ajmal has been an asset for Pakistan and would be included once he clears his official test from an ICC accredited lab.

The third and most important step was to be a press conference by Ajmal after the selection committee’s statement that he is not yet ready to appear in an official reassessment and clear the test. Ajmal was to then add that he is withdrawing himself from contention for the final 15-man World Cup selection.

However, all that planning and handling has now been spoilt after Shaharyar’s statement.

 

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