LAHORE – The absence of former captain Shoaib Malik from the Pentangular Cup has angered the national selectors and the management of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The axed all-rounder turned down the offer to lead the Punjab team in the five-team competition, saying he had committed himself to working as an expert on an Indian TV channel during the World Cup.
The dates of the Pentangular Cup, which is contested among the four provinces and the Federal Areas team, clash with the opening round of the World Cup. Reports attributing from the board said Malik had informed the national selectors who select the teams for the Pentangular Cup that he was unavailable because of his commitments in the World Cup.
“The selectors are not very happy because already most of the players are playing in the World Cup and the tournament has lost its competitive edge,” an official said. Test opener Taufiq Umar has now been appointed to lead the Punjab team in the tournament. Sources close to Malik said that he had committed himself to the media contract before the Pentangular Cup schedule was announced by the board. “Since he is not being selected for the Pakistan team he felt it would be best if he utilised the World Cup to make some good money,” one source added.
Malik had already upset the selectors earlier when he decided to skip the national one-day tournament and go and play league cricket in Bangladesh on a lucrative contract. “Malik is disappointed that after having performed so well in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy he was ignored by the selectors. He feels he has done enough at the domestic level to prove his fitness and form and now he has the right to earn some money during the World Cup from his media commitment,” one source said.
