Pakistan fast-bowler Umar Gul has hit out at Pakistani selectors following his exclusion from the team’s tour to England.
There is great anticipation ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming Test series against England. Most talk has centered on the return of Mohammad Amir to the Test side. Gul has cast the spotlight on the selectors, accusing them of being biased in their selection of the team and not giving him a fair chance to prove his worth.
‘Look, I’m not saying that they should play me,’ Gul told Dawn.com. ‘But at least treat my case on the same level as of others. Usually, it’s not in my nature to speak out my mind. But when people start rating me as a discard then it hurts a lot. I have had my fair share of injuries during my long international career. Just tell which fast bowler doesn’t get injured? This is part and parcel of cricket.
‘However, some people [in the cricket board] make you a fool by jumping to the conclusion that so and so individual’s playing career at the international level is over. And what is more annoying is that when you confront them they’ll act as if nothing has happened and will try to be as supportive as they can but the same people will form different opinion behind your back.’
Gul also went on to dispel the ‘myth’ that his exclusion was due to lack of fitness, after being accused of being unfit prior to the 2015 World Cup.
‘I was aghast when I found out that the parameter for fitness for the 2015 World Cup was set at 60 points. And yet I was not good enough to be considered [for selection] despite recording 62 points. Somebody in the PCB must be honest enough to explain this double-standard policy.
‘Now I realize that sometimes just being fit is not enough to be inducted because the trust is not there. Being the senior-most fast bowler, there was no way they [selectors] could have sidelined me the way they did. They were not willing to trust me as a player. In the last season I had rediscovered my rhythm and felt extremely fit to reclaim my Pakistan spot, but the selectors still chose to ignore me.’
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