Shoaib Malik Blasts PCB For Picking Players Of Liking Rather Than Skills; Calls For More Power To Be Given To Babar Azam

Senior Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has lambasted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its selectors for biasing in selections and exclusions of players from the national side.

Shoaib Malik, who last played a T20I in September 2020 and was dropped subsequently, says he is risking the remainder of his career by making such claims but prefers to speak “on behalf of my fellow cricketers” against the board.

He feels that on several occasions players who deserved to be in the squad were ignored, while those who are closer to the board personnel were picked.

“We have a system of liking and disliking in our cricket, which is something that is present in the rest of the world as well, but seems to be a bit more in our culture.

“The day things change in our cricket system where more importance is given to skills rather than who a person knows, only then will things improve,” Shoaib Malik was quoted as saying by Pakistani journalist Saj Sadiq.

“Whatever is in my fate is in the hands of the Almighty and not in any person’s control. I will have no regrets if I am not asked to play again, but I would have felt more regret if I had not spoken up on behalf of my fellow cricketers,” he added.

The final decision on selection should be that of the captain: Shoaib Malik

The veteran batsman also came in support of skipper Babar Azam. Shoaib Malik sympathizes with Azam, who has been reportedly unhappy with not been given the players of his asking.

The issue became prominent recently when Pakistan lost a T20I game to Zimbabwe – their first-ever defeat in the format to Zimbabwe – as their batters failed to chase down 119 runs.

“In the recent squad there were many players who Babar wanted to pick, but they weren’t selected. Everyone has their opinions but the final decision on selection should be that of the captain because it’s he who will fight it out on the ground he with his team,” the 39-year-old further commented.

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