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| Tuesday, 8 February 2005 |
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Shoaib rebellion claim 'nonsense' KARACHI, Sunday - Pakistan cricket boss Shaharyar Khan has rubbished reports of a rebellion against Shoaib Akhtar's return. The Nation newspaper claimed seven players, including captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, had threatened to boycott the tour of India if Shoaib was included. But Khan, who met the bowler on Friday, told BBC Asian Network: "I think that is absolute nonsense - it's not true." Khan also backed Inzamam as captain until June, adding: "What happens after the tour of West Indies we shall see." Shoaib's tour of Australia was cut short by a hamstring injury amid reports of excessive socialising at pubs and nightclubs. "What has happened is that Shoaib has broken down several times during the tour and we really want him to be 110% fit before he is up for selection," Khan explained. "I made this clear to him and also told him there were many pointers to the fact he was not paying due heed to his central contract." Inzamam's leadership has also come under fire, as the team suffered three successive Test defeats. "All these criticisms arose when he was unable to take the field in the second and third Tests because he had a bad back," said Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. "But since then he has been in excellent batting form and has established his leadership of a young and united team." Pakistan follow their three-Test tour of India with a trip to the Caribbean, which includes two Tests and finishes on 7 June. And Khan added: "Within the foreseeable future, which is the tour of India and the tour of West Indies, we have openly stated that he will be captain. At the moment we in the board are satisfied with Inzamam's captaincy and by his overall maturity." (BBC) |
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