Shoaib Malik is just an average Test player and instead of him, Pakistan should have handed over the captaincy to Mohammad Yousuf, feels pace discard Shabbir Ahmed.On his return from India after playing in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) there, Shabbir lashed out at Malik and questioned his acceptability to the senior members in the side.
"Malik was never a good Test player and to make him captain in the presence of more senior players is a decision beyond me," Shabbir said.
He also blamed Malik for the both Test and ODI series defeat in India.
"If the board wants to save the team from more defeats, it should make Mohammad Yousuf the captain," Shabbir said.
Shabbir last played for Pakistan early this year in South Africa before being injured but made a lasting impression in the ICL Twenty20 tournament, taking four wickets in the final.
The lanky pacer, who appeared in 10 Tests during which he was thrice reported for a suspect bowling action, claimed he had been stopped from playing domestic cricket by the board.
"I came back confident of repeating my form from the ICL in our domestic cricket but I have learnt I can't play. This is not fair and the PCB appears to be just towing the line of the Indian board to make them happy," alleged the pacer, who was served a 12-month ban by the ICC last year for his suspect action.
However, Zakir Khan, PCB Director Cricket Operations, told PTI that the ICL-contracted players were not barred from appearing in domestic cricket.
"They are not eligible for Pakistan selection but a ban on them from playing domestic cricket is yet to be discussed in the board," Zakir said.
Besides Shabbir, former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Azhar Mahmood also took part in the recently concluded ICL.
Still keen to play for Pakistan, Shabbir said Pakistan lost the series in India because it lacked a match winning bowler.
Source : http://www.hindu.com/
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