Afridi wants Akmal, Malik in Pak team
Saturday, 4 December 2010
ISLAMABAD, DEC 3 (AP): Pakistan limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi wishes senior players Shoaib Malik and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were in the team for the tour of New Zealand. The selectors have ignored Malik and Akmal for next month's three Twenty20s and two tests against New Zealand. The squad for six one-day internationals against the Black Caps will be named later. "They (Malik and Akmal) are requirements of the team," Afridi said on Friday in the southern port city of Karachi. "I think you (reporters) should ask the Pakistan Cricket Board and the selection committee what's the problem in the selection of Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal."
Malik's exclusion from the tour has surprised because of his impressive form in the domestic first-class competition. Malik was also not named in the match-fixing or spot-fixing controversy that marred Pakistan's tour of England.
Three Pakistan cricketers are under suspension and four more were named in a video obtained and aired by Geo television on Tuesday, when players' agent Mazhar Majeed fingered Akmal. Akmal averages more than 27 in 123 ODIs since 2002, but his glovework hasn't been as good as his batting.
Malik's exclusion from the tour has surprised because of his impressive form in the domestic first-class competition. Malik was also not named in the match-fixing or spot-fixing controversy that marred Pakistan's tour of England.
Three Pakistan cricketers are under suspension and four more were named in a video obtained and aired by Geo television on Tuesday, when players' agent Mazhar Majeed fingered Akmal. Akmal averages more than 27 in 123 ODIs since 2002, but his glovework hasn't been as good as his batting.