PCB irked with Malik over unavailability for Pentangular Cup

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Cricket Board and the national selectors are miffed with former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik over his decision not to play in the Pentangular Cup, a domestic tournament.

Malik, who was excluded from Pakistan’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2011, had turned down the offer to lead the Punjab team in the five-team competition, saying that he had committed himself to working as an expert on an Indian television channel during the mega event.

The Pentangular Cup, which is contested between Pakistan’s four provinces and the Federal areas team, is clashing with the opening round of the World Cup, which started on February 19.

Sources in the PCB were quoted as saying that Malik had informed the national selectors that he was unavailable for the Pentangular Cup because of his commitments in the World Cup.

“The selectors are not very happy because already most of the top players are playing in the World Cup and the tournament has lost its competitive edge,” the Daily Times quoted a source, as saying.

Sources close to Malik said that he had committed himself to the media contract before the Pentangular Cup schedule was announced by the board.

“Since he was not being selected for the Pakistan team he felt it would be best if he utilised the World Cup to make some good money,” one source added.

Malik had already upset the selectors when he earlier decided to skip the national one-day tournament and play league cricket in Bangladesh on a lucrative contract.

“Malik is disappointed that after having performed so well in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy he was ignored by the selectors.

He feels he has done enough at the domestic level to prove his fitness and form to the selectors and now he has the right to earn some money during the World Cup from his media commitment,” said another source. (ANI)