Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

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Players threatening to pull out of inaugural Twenty20 World Cup?

KARACHI: With the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup less than a month away, a storm may be brewing within the Pakistan cricket set-up.

**Sources told this correspondent on Wednesday that some of the country’s leading players including Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik are threatening to pull out of the T20 World Cup to protest against what they describe as “rude behaviour” of a top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official.

**The players’ threat comes at a time when a few of their teammates are seriously considering to sign up for the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) in spite of a clear warning from the PCB which says that any player opting for the ICL will never play for Pakistan again.

According to the sources, the relations between some of the leading players and Zakir Khan, PCB’s Director of Cricket Operations, worsened on Wednesday following an incident involving Shoaib Malik.

Sources said that Zakir had an argument with Malik over an appeal filed by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar against a fine imposed on him by the PCB for leaving the national training camp in Karachi earlier this month without informing the team management.

Shoaib, who was slapped with a fine of Rs 300,000, filed an appeal against the punishment saying that he had left the camp after informing the captain.

Sources claim that Malik was left fuming after getting a dressing down from Zakir and later talked to Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and several other leading players to discuss the issue.

Sources pointed out that several other players, especially Shoaib, already have their grievances against Zakir, a former Test cricketer. Shoaib Akhtar had recently alleged that Zakir misbehaved with his family members.

**Sources said that the players agreed to lodge a protest against Zakir and may even write a letter to President Pervez Musharraf, the Board’s chief patron, over the issue.
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They are also planning to inform the PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf that in future the Board should carry out all dealings with the players through Shafqat Naghmi, PCB’s Chief Operating Officer.

“Some of the players are unwilling to deal with Zakir any more. Their strained relation with the PCB Director is the flash point for the conflict,” said a source.

Meanwhile, the PCB has denied any friction between the players and the Board officials saying that things are going smooth ahead of the September 11-24 Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

**A PCB spokesman said that the players are completely united and are looking forward to giving their best in the T20 World Cup.

“We have talked to Shoaib Malik after hearing speculations about a so-called rift with the Board and he says such reports are baseless,” said the spokesman adding that Malik has assured the PCB officials that he and fellow teammates are fully committed to national duty.**
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SOURCE: The News International: Latest News Breaking, World, Entertainment, Royal News

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

Reports of argument between players and board official denied

Pakistan buzzes with familiar talk of player unrest

Five months on from the lowest point in their cricket history and into another fresh era, disruption and uncertainty have seemingly crept back into Pakistan cricket.

Following persistent reports linking several top players with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), news has also emerged of an impending showdown between a group of senior Pakistan players and a board official, a confrontation that some say may lead to the group boycotting the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.

A senior player, speaking to Cricinfo, alleged that an argument between Shoaib Malik, the captain, and Zakir Khan, director cricket operations, PCB, had led to the group of players demanding Zakir’s immediate removal. The players are said to be keen on sending a letter of protest against Zakir’s behaviour to the chairman of the board and to its patron, President Pervez Musharraf.

The argument was reportedly over an appeal filed by Shoaib Akhtar against a fine imposed on him by the board for leaving the national training camp in Karachi earlier this month without informing the team management. Akhtar, fined Rs 300,000 [approximately US$5,000], maintains he left the camp after informing the captain.

The story, which appeared in several local papers, has been strongly denied by several players and officials. “There is absolutely no truth to this whatsoever,” Malik told Cricinfo. “I was in Karachi and have come straight to Sialkot [his hometown] so where and when was this supposed altercation meant to have taken place? As for the boycott, there is nothing in it at all.”

Shahid Afridi, also allegedly part of the group, echoed Malik’s claims. “This is complete rubbish. We are busy preparing for the Twenty20 World Championship and there is no question of any boycott. We have a good relationship with our board and there is no reason to damage it.”

Zakir also expressed disbelief at the reports, claiming that his relationship with the players was strong. “My relationship with the team is very cordial. I have a good rapport with them individually and I don’t understand how this story has come about. It is absolutely baseless,” he told Cricinfo.

Other management officials have also expressed doubts over whether the players would consider a boycott. One told Cricinfo, “Zakir doesn’t have that much interaction with the players so I am surprised to hear first of an altercation. And I don’t think the players would seriously consider a boycott - they are committed to playing for Pakistan.”

Yet there is no smoke without fire and bubbling away in the background is an issue of potentially greater concern: The ICL. Since their omission from the 15-man squad to South Africa, reports have consistently linked Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq with the ICL.

Neither has yet signed their central contracts with the board, despite being given an extension in the original deadline to do so. Until August 15 - the extended deadline -neither player had got in touch with the board to reveal their plans. Younis Khan and Danish Kaneria, the others who haven’t yet signed their contracts, have been in touch with board officials to explain the delay (both are playing county cricket currently), further fuelling speculation that Yousuf and Razzaq may shun the PCB for the ICL.

Though Razzaq has said publicly he is considering the ICL offer - and risks facing sanction for doing so - Yousuf told Cricinfo earlier in the week that nobody from the ICL had been in touch with him from and so there was no question of signing on.

Imran Farhat, until recently Pakistan’s first-choice selector, has all but finalised his deal with the ICL while at least two other players still a part of Pakistan’s national selection equation are seriously mulling over ICL offers. Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, has signed up with Yorkshire for the remainder of the county season but is still keen on the ICL.

Asim Kamal, another discard and one of 27 players kept on a retainer by the board has also been approached. “I have to think about it seriously. I want to play cricket and I need to make a living too,” he explained.

Geoff Lawson arrives next week to begin his stint as coach. It is meant to formally mark a new beginning. Like many before him, however, he may not be aware of what exactly he has let himself in for.

SOURCE: http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/story/307165.html

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

This is freaking on going tusle between players and PCB and the ONLY thing to blame is PCB itself and PCB freaks, lotays and jokers.

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

this was the first news item I read early in the morning. What is it ?...another storm brewing on the cricketing front. thats sad...

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

sub dramay hain :)

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

Dame kis liye...
Actually I think ICL has given them some short of viagara. Players now has options and are not willing to take **** from their boards. Issues in South Africa and Pakistan is because of this.

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

Beside all this, Why are board officials becoming this important in the setup? I understand the importance of COACH and MANAGER but "manager operations" ? why does he have to have a day-2-day contact with players? Why he has to be in the news everyday? Every day I read a news about PCB's XXXX Manager shi***** around !

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

exactly!

plus Zakir Khan was a very average cricketer (and I am being very generous here) in his time.

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

Fkhan, you mean drama to oust Zakir khan and pressurize the board? am I right?

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Re: Shoaib Malik and Co. to protest against Zakir Khan

whats the difference between the roles of PCB's Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officer?