Veteran Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik dropped a bombshell, accusing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of nepotism. The PCB selection committee had come into the spotlight after skipper Babar Azam’s suggestions over which player to pick for the Zimbabwe series were ignored. Now, Malik has claimed that selections are made in the team on the basis ‘who knows people in the system’.
Cases of corruption, bias and a number of other issues in Pakistan cricket have often surfaced. The PCB has also had a number of changes in the support staff over the last few years, yet have not been able to challenge the top teams.
Malik feels there’s a need for change in Pakistan cricket but it would only come when players are selected on the basis of merit and not on the basis of their connections.
“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,” he was quoted as saying by Pakistani journalist Saj Sadiq.
Pakistan skipper Babar also had a fallout with the selectors after a few of his preferred players weren’t picked for the Zimbabwe series. Malik backed Babar’s thought process, saying the captain’s wish should be granted at all costs.
“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”, he said.
