Former captain Rameez Raja opposed the inclusion of Indian Cricket League players in the Pakistan national team, saying such a move would set a wrong example.
Former captain Rameez Raja opposed the inclusion of Indian Cricket League players in the Pakistan national team, saying such a move would set a wrong example.
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"What sort of message will we send out to those who didn't go and play in the unauthorised league? That they can also go play in an illegal event and then come back and play for their country?" Rameez asked.
The former captain said he didn't have much sympathy for the players who aligned with the rebel Indian league. Rameez said they knew what they were doing when they decided to sacrifice their Pakistan careers and play in a tournament not recognised by the ICC or its member countries.
"I don't sympathise with them. If we allow the ICL players to play again for Pakistan then we are telling everyone go and play in illegal tournaments for money and you can always comeback we will take you back," the cricketer-turned-commentator told the 'Express' daily.
The Pakistan Cricket Board yesterday dropped three ICL players - Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved and Imran Nazir - from their provisional squad of 30 players for the Twenty20 World Cup in England after surprisingly naming them for the tournament.
The board has said it is waiting for clearance from the ICC and ICL before reconsidering these players for selection.
Rameez who also of the view that the selectors took a risk by including controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar in the series against Australia.
"I don't know but last year also he went to Abu Dhabi and got unfit and he has already said the heavy ground conditions there are not ideal for fast bowlers," Rameez said. "I think his fitness is still not 100 percent perfect and it is a big risk selecting him," he said.
He said the team would have to play with lot of passion and aggression to beat the Australians in what is going to be a very tough and hard series in demanding conditions.
"I see the batsmen flourishing in the conditions there which are very demanding on the pace bowlers," he added.
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