Razzaq cries foul over his exclusion from WI tour

Lahore: All-rounder Abdul Razzaq has cried foul over his axing from the Pakistan squad for the upcoming West Indies tour following his not-so-impressive performance in the World Cup, saying he did not get ample opportunity to showcase his talent in the just-concluded mega-event.

Apart from Razzaq, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal was today axed from Pakistan’s combined ODI and Twenty20 squad bound for the West Indies, while senior players Umar Gul and Younis Khan have been rested.

Razzaq questioned the basis on which the Pakistani selectors assessed his performance and ignored him for limited overs leg of the tour.

“I was told to bat at number eight and I hardly got a few overs in every match. So, where does the question of my not nonperformance arise?” Razzaq asked.

“How can one perform when he is batting at number eight and bowling just a few overs in every match?”

The 31-year-old Lahore-born all-rounder, who has played 46 Tests, 262 ODIs and 26 T20 matches for Pakistan, said it was very difficult to prove one’s ability in such a limited opportunity.

“One hardly gets time to settle in or build a proper innings. It was the same situation in bowling also,” Razzaq stated.

“I had told the team management I was ready to bat at the number three position because I have batted at that position before and have also done well,” he insisted.

“But as it was the World Cup and due to requirements of the team, the management didn’t accept my point of view and I was kept at the number eight position,” he added.

However, Razzaq said it was not the end of his career and he would try hard to make another comeback to the national team.

“I want to comeback. I think I can still continue playing for a couple of more years as I pay a lot of attention to my fitness,” he said.