Confused Kamran seeks reasons for selection snub

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LAHORE: Pakistan’s discarded wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is seeking explanation from PCB about the reasons of his omission from the selection amid news that the International Cricket Council has reused to clear him and two other players for the World Cup, it was learnt on Thursday. After being axed, Kamran said that he would be meeting PCB officials to seek a clarification as to why he was dropped from the team despite performing well in domestic cricket.
But the ICC did not give the PCB green signal for Akmal, former captain Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria while the case of Mohammad Yousuf also hangs in balance. The PCB approached the ICC before constituting a pool of 30 players for the World Cup and it would announce the provisional list on December 15.
However, Akmal is getting anxious for his place back in the team and would be meeting the PCB official soon. “There is so much being said about the spot-fixing scandal these days and my name is also being mentioned in it. I want to seek some clarification from the board on this,” he said. “As far as I know I got a letter from the ICC saying I was clear to play for any team.
I want to know why I am being ignored,” he added. Kamran, who has played in 53 Tests and 123 ODIs for Pakistan, was dropped for the series against South Africa in the UAE and also sidelined for the tour to New Zealand by the selectors last week.
Chief selector Mohsin Khan has said that Kamran was not considered for the tour because the PCB had not given clearance to the selectors to pick him up. Reports said that Kamran is also in danger of being overlooked for the World Cup preliminary squad due to be announced later this month as the ICChas told the PCB it still has concerns about his role in the fixing scandal.
“I plan to meet with Zakir Khan because playing in the World Cup is every player’s dream and I want to play and perform. It would be heartbreaking for me if I don’t get an opportunity to play in the World Cup,” Kamran said.