The PCB has decided to call up Abdul Razzaq to replace one of its two injured players in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20. The request, if accepted, will make Razzaq the first former ICL player to return to international cricket.
The request was sent to the ICC’s technical committee and, though there’s no official confirmation it has been accepted, sources close to the Pakistan camp and the player claimed it had.
“We have made a request to the ICC for Abdul Razzaq as a replacement,” Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, told Cricinfo. “He is an allrounder and we’ve requested he replace Arafat, who is also an allrounder.”
A source close to the player also confirmed that Razzaq had been contacted by the board and apprised of the situation.
While both Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir are carrying injuries, Arafat’s hamstring strain seems the more serious and Razzaq would represent a like-for-like change in that he is an allrounder.
Razzaq was one of several ex-ICL players granted amnesty by the PCB a few weeks back, shortly after the Indian board set the ball rolling for players to come in from the unofficial league. Other boards followed suit; some set a ‘cooling off’ period in place, while others like the PCB said they would handle each player on a case-by-case basis.
Ironically, Razzaq’s name was on the original list of 30 probables the PCB had sent to the ICC in early April - before the BCCI announced the amnesty - but the board u-turned and scratched his name off because the ICC objected to his ICL status. And with more irony, the comeback completes a full circle of sorts for Razzaq: it was only after being overlooked for the 2007 World Twenty20 squad that he decided to turn his back on Pakistan cricket. He lambasted the team’s set-up at the time, claiming he had been treated badly and then retired from international cricket, before taking back his announcement.
Pakistan will welcome back Razzaq’s skills. He was one of the ICL’s most valuable players, leading his franchise Hyderabad Heroes to the title in the first season and a runners-up spot the second time round. His form in the recently-concluded domestic Twenty20 was outstanding as well and limited-overs competitions in England hold special memories. It was in the 1999 World Cup that Razzaq first announced himself as a major talent, picking up a bundle of wickets and scoring some crucial runs, often at one down.
If accepted by the ICC, it will boost our batting/bowling lineup.
Re: Ex-ICL player Razzaq set for international return
The decisions to replace Arafat for Pak and Sehwag for India are pending. In Pakistan's case they want a rebel player which might not go too well with ICC.
Re: Ex-ICL player Razzaq set for international return
Great news to start with.... finally there is some ice breaking....... Now whether ICC will accept it or not, we need to see.... Arafat has to be seriously injured ( and verified by the doctors) to be replaced....
Why dont the PCB ask Arafat to visit SOHO in London as well..... ;)
Awesome news & widely expected although Arafat did score some quick runs against England. He really must have a problem with his hamstring. Now how about Nazir :)
Re: Ex-ICL player Razzaq set for international return
This should give us great hope for the a semi-final spot. I think Razzaq will open now. That was his position with the Hyderabad Heroes. Open with Akmal & Razzaq and no place for Butt or Shahzad (That's a blessing in itself).
Yaar seriously i’ve asked in the other Pakistan Match thread that somebody please tell me where the Pakistan team stays and i’ll ensure Mr. Salman Butts fingers (with whichs help he spilled countless catches) will need some surgery before he dares to step onto a cricket field
My concern is, how effective AbdulRazzaq can be in english conditions and when he hasnt played in international competition for a long time. Ofcourse indian conditions are identical to Pakistani, and the difference between Indian and english conditions is immense.
He would definitely need a lot of tough practice and a good amount of time in batting/bowling v/s both Srilanka and Ireland.
My concern is, how effective AbdulRazzaq can be in english conditions and when he hasnt played in international competition for a long time. Ofcourse indian conditions are identical to Pakistani, and the difference between Indian and english conditions is immense.
He would definitely need a lot of tough practice and a good amount of time in batting/bowling v/s both Srilanka and Ireland.
He may not be match fit but then alot of Pakistani players were also not due to the lack of cricket. However Abdul Razzaq did play in the RBS Twenty 20 along with the current members and was one of the stars there. Plus he hasn't played much cricket in the last 2 years but whatever he has played was T20 and just T20 :)
I wish BCCI had declared the amnesty for ICL players before the deadline for international teams to submit their final squads for T20 world Cup. Had that happened, PCB could have waived the cooling period for Abdul Razaaq, Imran Nazir and Rana Sahib (since all 3 were in the 30 probables) to include them in the T20 PAkistan aquad. Anyway something is better than nothing.
Hopefully there won't be any last minutes issues with Abdul Razzaq such as UK visa.
One of my favourite players.