Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday came under a scathing attack from one of its former chiefs who said the board has adopted double standards in dealing with fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Khalid Mehmood, a former PCB chairman, claimed Shoaib to be unfit and felt youngsters should have got a look-in instead of the 33-year-old bowler.

“It is quite apparent that Shoaib is no more capable of playing for Pakistan but still the PCB is persisting with him instead of bringing younger bowlers,” said Mehmood.

“It seems that the board lacks the will and determination to take our cricket forward. There is confusion and lack of confidence within the PCB set-up.”

Pakistan on Monday included Shoaib Akhtar in its 15-man squad for the one-day series against Australia to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from April 22-May 7.

Shoaib, 33, was previously sidelined as a spent force but made a comeback in the Pakistan team after ‘proving’ his fitness. Mehmood also lambasted PCB over the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore last month.

He pointed out that the Sri Lankan cricketers came to Pakistan at a time when no other team was interested in visiting this country because of security apprehensions but even then they were given minimal security cover.

“The Sri Lankan cricketers were given an improper security cover and for that the PCB, being the host board, is also responsible,” he said.

Speaking to ARY ONE WORLD Ex ‘Chief Selector’ Salahuddin Salu told it was total injustice to select Ahmed Shehzad instead of Khalid Latif, who has scored tons of runs in the last ODI cup including a double hundred. Also he mentioned Qadir promised an experienced strong squad:” But why is a 17 year old Shehzad selected than instead of an experienced Manzoor?”

As regards the Rawalpindi Maalgaari, Aussies don’t need their top players to bang him, even their second tier team would be enough to slog him over the fence. Mind you it was not Jayasuriya, Jayawardene and Sangakar, but Dilshan and Kapuragedra thrashed him in that match, so the Aussies would find it very easy.

I read somewhere that Aussies will travel directly to Dubai/Abu Dhabi from SA, so the team will be the same which is playing against SA, meaning full-strength.

Another joke, the Pindi Maalgari observed that the Aussies will be easy to beat this time around, since most of their top players have retired!! This led our Chief Selector to believe that the Actor would deliver, hence his eagerness to have him abroad.

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=170884

It says, “Shoaib Akhtar in Qadir’s team after passing fitness test.”

When was that he failed a fitness test in Pakistan? And, when he goes with the team he is seen sitting in the dugout with the reserve players OR, he plays one match and then he is injured. That idiot cannot bowl two overs without getting huff puffed and he gives away so many runs that the morale of the whole team goes down. Remember in that T20 against Sri Lanka he gave away 43 runs in 3 overs. Its because of him Pakistan lost. Gone are the days when he used to be a threat. Now, the opposition is always very happy when they see that he is in the side, because they score freely and then Pakistan is a bowler short. I think Qadir has gone nuts, not that he wasn’t earlier but, now since he is the chief selector, he is gone bonkers to include that Actor in the team.

Sofia Gucci? Email?

“I am agree,” with khansahab about Abdul Razzak’s form. He was a good player but his form was pathetic and during that time me too, I have criticized his double minded approach whether to go defensive or get aggressive by saying: “Razzaq doesn’t know whether to wear a cap or a helmet and he wears both at the same time.” It is funny because, I have never seen any player doing that. Secondly, even when playing defensive cricket he was using a long handle bat, which normally players use it for aggression or when they have to score fast. But, Popeye The Sailor Man Abdul Razzaq’s brain has been damaged since he ate “spinach and nothing but spinach” and passed out in his hotel room in Australia in 2004-05 series.

Last night I watched India New Zealand match live on TV and it was a pathetic performance by the NZ batsmen, except that Ross Taylor was not out and the umpire gave him out. The snicker proved that the ball did not touch his bat or anything (not even the pad) that was bad umpiring and other than that Zaheer Khan bowled well. During India’s first innings when they were 204/6 I thought they won’t make 250 but Dhoni is a very lucky guy, Harbhajan scored a 60 and Zaheer Khan scored 33 in 21 balls (four consecutive fours and a two in one over) and even Ishant and Munna Bhai Patel scored runs and that changed the complexion of the game, and 379 is a good total to defend. The game and the series is in India’s pocket now. So, its coming exactly the way I predicted that NZ will win both the T20 matches and India will win the ODI and test series convincingly. Wow, I am better than the “Chartists”

I like the Wellington cricket ground, it is in perfect settings and on a sunny day there is no ground better than this one in terms of landscape.

OK I look forward to Razzaq’s selection but please tell him to stop the spinach obsession

And how did you find Sofia Gucci?

Fine I accept your point that Razzaq can be a destructive player. Both of us can say things to oppose the other’s argument. You are accepting Razzaq performed poorly against South Africa in some series, by admitting that you’re contradicting your own argument that he can play well against good sides. Also, you said Sri Lanka pitches are not always flat. Shoaib Malik averages 39 in ODI’s on Sri Lankan pitches which is a handy ODI average. He has 2 centuries in Sri Lanka, as well.

Due to your unwavering support for Razzaq, I hope for your sake he plays and we can see him perform.