Five suspect Pakistani cricketers are unlikely to play the World Cup next year, according to former opening batsman, Aftab Gul, who incidentally is now a lawyer and representing suspended captain, Salman Butt in the spot-fixing controversy.
Speaking exclusively over telephone from Lahore on Thursday afternoon, he confirmed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ijaz Butt have entered into a verbal agreement that these players will not represent the national team until the World Cup. The five players who were named are: Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal.
“Danish Kaneria was omitted (the PCB is yet to give out the reason) at the last minute from the squad that left for UAE (two Tests against South Africa in Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and despite being fit, Kamran Akmal was ‘ignored’ by the selectors and his brother, Adnan was chosen to play the Tests”, said Aftab Gul. The initial reason given for ignoring Kamran while announcing the one-day and Test squads against South Africa was that he was not 100 per cent fit, but he had reportedly been impressive in the domestic matches.
The lawyer is not hopeful for the next ICC hearing to be conducted for Salman Butt and two other players, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif. “We are going to hold a tele-conference with the ICC officials on Friday to decide the possible date. But honestly, I am not hopeful for these players”, admitted Gul.
Pakistan is scheduled to travel to New Zealand (December 26 to Feb. 5) to play three T20s, two Tests matches and six ODIs before the World Cup to be played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. And if the arrangement as claimed by Gul is reached between the ICC and PCB, these five players will not figure in the squad to travel to New Zealand as well.