Karachi, Jun.4 (ANI): Shoaib Malik’s inclusion in the 15-man squad for the Asia Cup just days after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lifted the one-year ban imposed on him may have surprised many, but he was able to make it to the national squad only after he swore before skipper Shahid Afridi that he would completely transform himself into a ‘team man.’
Rejecting media reports that Malik was included in the squad under pressure from various political and other influential quarters, Afridi said Malik was a talented cricketer whom the team needed.
“I don’t take any pressure from anyone. The thing is that Shoaib Malik is a talented cricketer and there is no doubt about it. The team needs him. But I’ve told him clearly that I’m supporting you and I need your support for the sake of the team,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.
The swashbuckling all rounder also revealed that he had a ‘heart-to-heart’ with Malik before the meeting with the national selectors and PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to pick the team for the Asia Cup.
“Malik has assured me of his complete support. He sounded really serious about making a successful international return and wants to help me in my efforts to put the team back on track,” Afridi said.
“I have no personal grudges against anybody including Malik. The thing is that I just want players who can contribute towards the team cause. I want to raise our performance graph and that can only happen through a team effort,” he added.
Afridi also rubbished reports regarding pacer Shoaib Akhtar failing a fitness test conducted just a day before the team was to be announced.
“Who said he (Akhtar) failed the fitness test? We have received reports from experts that he is fully fit after which we have decided to recall him,” he said.
Afridi, 30, backed the selectors’ decision to include Akhtar in the Sri Lanka bound 15-man squad, saying the speedster would add more firepower to Pakistan’s bowling line up.
“It’s true that Shoaib has been out of action for some time, but I’m sure that he still has a lot of cricket left in him. We can field him in our big matches which means he will get enough time to recover and maintain his form and fitness. I’m happy that he is back,” said Afridi. (ANI)
Pakistan pays tribute to coach Woolmer
Pakistan has paid glowing tribute to its former cricket coach Bob Woolmer on the third anniversary of his death, saying his progressive coaching made a huge impact on the game.
“On the third death anniversary of Woolmer, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wishes to pay tribute to a man who did so much for our cricket and whose progressive coaching made a huge impact on the game,” the board announced.
Woolmer, 58, was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica on March 18, 2007, one day after Pakistan was sensationally knocked out of the World Cup following a shock defeat to outsider Ireland.
Pakistani players came under intense investigation when Woolmer’s death was initially treated as murder.
Some commentators insisted Woolmer was killed to stop him blowing the whistle on illegal betting, the curse of the game in Asia. But after a detailed inquiry Jamaican police declared Woolmer had died of natural causes.
PCB said the contribution of Woolmer, who remained coach from 2004 until his death and was also a former South African coach, will never be forgotten.
“Woolmer was a distinguished cricketer and coach whose contributions to the game and especially Pakistan cricket will never be forgotten,” it said.
“More importantly Woolmer was an excellent human being who enriched the lives of all those that he came in contact with.
“He is and will always be missed. The entire Pakistan cricket community’s thoughts and prayers are with the Woolmer family.”
To honour Woolmer, the PCB dedicated their indoor cricket school at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, which was inaugurated by the Pakistan and South African teams in October 2007, to their late coach.
This year’s anniversary of his death comes with Pakistani players once again accused of match-fixing following a dismal tour of Australia where they lost all three Tests, five one-day and a T20 match.
Former captain Shoaib Malik and all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were banned for one year – widely reported in the local media for match-fixing – a charge PCB denied.
Two other former captains, Younus Khan, who was closest to Woolmer, and Mohammad Yousuf, were banned indefinitely on charges of infighting, while the Akmal brothers (Kamran and Umer) and Shahid Afridi were heavily fined.
PCB has sent charge sheets to the penalised players and gave them 30 days to appeal against the sanctions.
- AFP