Cricket
Misbah bemoans exclusion
2010-06-24 11:56
Karachi - Veteran batsman Misbah-ul-Haq expressed disappointment on Thursday at being dropped from the England-bound Pakistan squad, defending his averages as among the best.
"It is very disappointing," Misbah said. "You find yourself in the eleven and suddenly you are not even in a preliminary squad of 35, it prompts you to burn all your cricket equipment in anger."
Pakistan announced a 15-man Twenty20 and 17-member Test squad which will face Australia in two Twenty20 matches and two Tests followed by four Tests and two Twenty20 matches against England -- all in England between July and September.
Pakistan will also play five one-day matches against England at the end of the tour for which a squad will be announced later.
Experienced batsman Younus Khan, Misbah and Faisal Iqbal failed to make the team, making way for newcomers Umar Amin and Azhar Ali despite the views of experts that Pakistan will need experience on a tough tour.
"My Test average is 33, one-day is 39 and Test 36, and if you compare it with other players it is better than many, so it makes you think what's wrong with you," said Misbah.
He was the best batsman of the national one-day tournament last season.
"I am very disappointed because I was dropped last year as well and I came back through performing in domestic events, and then suddenly I found myself dropped again," said Misbah.
Misbah has played 19 Tests, 56 one-day and 29 Twenty20 matches for Pakistan.
The team selection has also come in for flak from former players, with Javed Miandad calling for a meeting with President Asif Zardari, patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim accused the PCB of victimising Younus after his indefinite ban -- imposed after Pakistan's miserable tour of Australia in March -- was overturned.