Pakistani greats call for boycott over Ajmal fiasco
Source: AFP |
September 7, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FORMER Pakistani players are calling for a boycott of the International Cricket Council annual awards ceremony over the omission of spinner Saeed Ajmal from the shortlist for test player of the year.
Ajmal, 34, took 72 wickets in 12 tests from August 2011 to July this year, including 24 wickets in a 3-0 rout of world No. 1 England in January-February.
"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 said.
"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."
An independent jury comprising former players, officials and mediamen provoked anger in Pakistan after omitting the wily off-spinner from the shortlist of four candidates, which includes Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, Australian Michael Clarke and South Africans Vernon Philander and Hashim Amla.
Ajmal, 34, took 72 wickets in 12 tests from August 2011 to July this year, including 24 wickets in a 3-0 rout of world No. 1 England in January-February.
"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 said.
"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."
An independent jury comprising former players, officials and mediamen provoked anger in Pakistan after omitting the wily off-spinner from the shortlist of four candidates, which includes Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, Australian Michael Clarke and South Africans Vernon Philander and Hashim Amla.
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