The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is under pressure to boycott the annual ICC awards ceremony after the game's apex governing body refused to include Saeed Ajmal in the final list of nominations for any category.
"Ajmal deserved to be shortlisted for either the Test cricketer of the year or ODI player of the year award. The way the ICC has ignored him is unjust and the PCB must convey its reservations by boycotting the awards ceremony in Sri Lanka," Pakistan's former captain, Rashid Latif told PTI. "How can they ignore Ajmal when he has performed brilliantly and led Pakistan to a shock 3-0 clean sweep over the world's top Test side England this year," Latif asked.
Other former players also expressed their discontent with the decision of the ICC.
"This ICC process to shortlist players is clearly flawed because cricket is all about performance, not personal likes and dislikes. Better if the PCB boycotts the awards function," former Test player and ex-coach of the national team, Mohsin Khan said.
"It will at least send out a strong message to the ICC. South Africa also did it in 2009 when their deserving players were ignored for the awards," Mohsin, who is also a former chief selector, said.
The annual ICC awards ceremony will be held in Sri-Lanka on September 15, just prior to the start of the World T20 in the emerald Island.
The omission has already led to the PCB writing letters to the ICC, expressing its dissent with the decision, and pointed out that Ajmal was the top wicket-taker in Tests in the qualifying period for the awards, taking 72 wickets in 12 games and was also placed second in the ODI top bowlers list. Former Test batsman, Basit Ali also criticised the ICC for ignoring Ajmal insisting that the PCB must not accept the decision tamely.
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