brahmachari99

Shoaib Malik outburst may earn PCB’s wrath

Friday, 09 Oct, 2009
KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has invited trouble with his criticism of the team’s frequent batting reshuffle in the ICC Champions Trophy with the board reviewing if it amounts to contract violation.

Malik drew the ire of captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam after blaming the team management for indulging in too much shuffling of the batting order in the Champions Trophy.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the Board was now reviewing Malik’s statement in which he said he would not bat as an opener or one-down batsman in future as it affected his batting.

Malik, who was replaced by Younis earlier this year as the skipper of the side, said one reason for the batsmen struggling for consistent form was because the team management shuffled around the batting order a lot.

The PCB, however, is not amused and a board source said: ‘We are looking to see if Malik’s statement is a violation of his central contract.’

Younis and Intikhab, meanwhile, have already made their feelings clear. Intikhab said that as far as he was concerned no player could dictate to the team management which position he would bat on. ‘I don’t know why Malik made such a statement because if you want to play for Pakistan then you have to be prepared for a change in your batting order if the team requires this,’ Intikhab said.

Intikhab made it clear that any changes in the batting order were made because of the given situation.

‘There is no attempt to disturb any player,’ he said. Intikhab said he believed that in modern day cricket, specially in One-dayers and Twenty20, a team needed to be flexible in its approach to the game and not play to a set pattern.

Younis also made it clear that any one in the national team was required to be prepared to bat at any position if the team required this. ‘I have myself opened the innings in Australia and batted at different positions, including at number three, this year against Sri Lanka. Being professional cricketers we have to adjust accordingly,’ he said.

Malik also came under criticism from former Pakistan captain, Rashid Latif who said any player who refused to bat at the position suggested by the team management would not be in his team. ‘Any player who says he will not bat at this or that position will never be in my team because no exceptions can be made for anyone,’ Latif said.

Malik was sent in at number three in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand and failed after he had scored a match-winning hundred against India in an earlier match batting lower down the order.—Agencies


http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/...bs-wrath-ha-01

samb

I don't get it... Malik is the guy who has batted in every position. he's opened, he's gone in the top order, lower middle order... you name it, he's done it. basically whatever he's been asked. and now, he's become one our top two ODI bats. so, why is the team management intent on ruining one of their better batsmen? I just don't get it...

and why is the ghairat of the team management just waking up now? it's well known that Yousuf didn't like batting at 3. so he moved down and hasn't gone back since. Afridi has refused to open in the past. I remember a certain problem in the showers in West Indies... during the T20 world cup, Younis talked about the opening problems and was asked if he would consider opening for the sake of stability at the top to which Younis' reply was - why him of all players and why can't someone else open instead... wah captain jee... kia team spirit hay...

so, for years and years the team has tolerated inflexible prima donnas who refused to do what management asked them to do. and here's a guy who has been flexible and selfless for 85% of his career thus far... and despite being shunted up and down like a yoyo, he has managed to become a good, decent player. so, if he's asking for some stability and clarity in his role, what's the damn problem? why doesnt the management get its panties in a bunch when shoday morons like Afridi and Akhtar break the team rules for the umpteenth times? is selfless, team-first behavior only Malik's responsibility while the rest of the players play for their own positions and records?