The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Yousuf, Razzaq, Farhat snub PCB

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Monday, Sep 03, 2007
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Yousuf, Razzaq, Farhat snub PCB

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has failed in its bid to convince three of the four players who have signed up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL) to align with the Board again.

Sources in the Board confirmed that the Chairman, Nasim Ashraf, had spoken to Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat in the last 48 hours, but failed to get any positive response from them.

“None of them have said they would drop their ICL contracts. They have not even said they would reconsider their positions. Farhat and Razzaq in fact outlined some of their complaints against the attitude of the Board and selectors in general to the chairman,” one source said.

Interestingly, the PCB chairman has not bothered to speak to former captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, who is in England playing for Yorkshire.

“I don’t think until Inzamam is taken into confidence the other three players would respond to the Board or reconsider not playing in the ICL,” the source said, adding “all the three are loyal and close to Inzamam and will follow what he says.”

While Razzaq and Inzamam are in England, Yousuf is on a religious tour in the northern areas of Pakistan.

Only Farhat has been available in person.

“I don’t understand this fuss over the ICL. It is just a private league and there is nothing wrong with it. Why can’t we play for it and our country as well? Why do we have to face any conditions?” Inzamam said from England.

“We are committing no crime and doing nothing wrong. Where does the question of patriotism creep up from? When the Board is not selecting us for National duty, why can’t we go and play in the ICL and earn some good money? What is wrong if there is more cricket?” he said.

Awkward position

Other sources said the Board found itself in an awkward position because the ICL was not even officially banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). — PTI

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