Saeed Ajmal's omission unjust – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-Khan-c64237 – Cricket News Update
Imran http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859 for the Player of the Year award.
While speaking to media reporters on Monday, the cricketer turned politician said that depriving a match-winner like Ajmal of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 award is a great injustice, not only to the player but also to the gentleman’s sport.
“It is a great injustice to a player who is a match-winner in all formats of the game and his omission was surprising,” said Khan when asked to comment of the hot issue, during a media encounter here on Monday.
Saeed Ajmal, the wily Pakistan off-spinner, proved himself to be the best in the world, claiming 72 wickets in 12 matches played in one year time (August 4, 2011-August 6, 2012). However, he was surprisingly overlooked by the 32-member independent jury for Player of the year award, as the jury shortlisted http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757) for the coveted award.
Another former skipper of Pakistan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ramiz-Hasan-Raja-c83872 urged the governing body to review Ajmal’s case saying omission of deserving players like him from the shortlist could damage the credibility of the awards.
“I feel Ajmal was hard done by the jury and it is a serious case for review because if performers are not picked then the credibility (of awards) is missing,” said the cricketer turned commentator and added, “…it hurts not only Pakistan but the whole community.”
Veteran pacer and former Pakistan coach http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Waqar-Younis-Maitla-c96193 also questioned the system.
“On the basis of performance, you can't overlook Ajmal and it comes as a great surprise to me,” said Younis, 40, who played 87 Tests and 262 ODIs for Pakistan between 1989 and 2003.
“I don't know how this system is working. Maybe the system needs to be reviewed because 32 people are too much,” he added further.
Many former Pakistan players have also asked the PCB to boycott the awards ceremony in a protest against Ajmal’s unjust exclusion, but the board has said that a decision has not yet been taken in this regard. The ICC awards ceremony will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, this Saturday.
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