Kamran, Malik disappointed over NZ tour exclusion

Chief selector Mohsin Khan had earlier said Akmal, Malik and Kaneria, had not been cleared by PCB.


Afp December 01, 2010
Kamran, Malik disappointed over NZ tour exclusion

KARACHI: Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik on Wednesday expressed disappointment at being dropped from Twenty20 and Test squads against New Zealand, clamouring for answers from the cricket board.

Pakistan has announced separate squads for three Twenty20 matches and two Tests against New Zealand ahead of their tour, which starts later this month. Akmal, Malik, senior batsman Muhamad Yousuf and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria were left out.

A separate squad will be announced for six one-day internationals.

Chief selector Mohsin Khan said Akmal, Malik and Kaneria, all under suspicion of spot or match-fixing, had not been cleared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Yousuf was left out for lack of fitness, he said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly issued notice to Akmal over alleged match-fixing during Pakistan's shock defeat against Australia in January's Sydney Test.

Pakistan cricket has been rocked by mounting allegations of fixing since the August Test against England at Lord's.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were provisionally suspended by the ICC after a British tabloid sting implicated them in spot-fixing during the match.

Akmal, however, claimed he had been cleared of any corruption.

"I am disappointed at being left out, because I passed an email from the ICC to the PCB last month which cleared my name for selection, so I should know why my name was excluded," Akmal, told AFP from the town of Sialkot.

The wicket-keeper was not selected for Pakistan's recent series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates because he was recovering from an appendicitis operation.

But he has since featured in domestic matches, hitting his highest first-class score of 268 last month.

Akmal's name was also mentioned in footage aired by a TV channel on Tuesday, with alleged bookmaker Mazhar Majeed claiming he was among seven players obeying his orders during matches.

Akmal admits Majeed was his marketing agent but denied that he had been involved in any wrongdoing.

"Majeed has been a Pakistani players' agent. He was Inzamam-ul-Haq's agent, Yousuf's agent and an agent for several other players, including Umar Gul and Salman Butt. But I have never been involved in any wrongdoing," said Akmal.

Akmal said he still has hopes of playing for Pakistan.

"I am performing well at first-class level, so I still hope to play for Pakistan in the one-day series against New Zealand and then in next year's World Cup," said Akmal.

Malik also told AFP he was disappointed at being excluded.

"I am really disappointed," he said. "I have performed well in the domestic season."

Malik hit two hundreds in domestic matches last month.

"Throughout my 11-year career I have never been involved in any wrongdoing and was not even in the team when all those (fixing) allegations were levelled," said Malik.

He played in neither the Sydney Test nor against England at Lords.

COMMENTS (2)

Rizwan T Khan | 13 years ago | Reply This indicates something is fishy with this guy and PCB is well aware of it.
Zaffar | 13 years ago | Reply SM is a talentd and excellent all-rounder with a good head-good enough to be the captain. It is senseless to exclude such talent when they have no proog against him. I think there is some ploitical reasons for sidelining him I smell someone is very jealous. We have scrutinised his marraige and seen him closely during the interviews. He is overall a nice guy with no attitude problems like some of the others. Just does not make sense. KA on the other hand needs to be patient and wait for his turn. i am sure he is very good but let others play as well in this chaotic sytem called PCB
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