KARACHI: When Abdul Razzaq broke ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and was soon recalled in the Pakistan team this summer, the seasoned all-rounder had thought he was back in business. And it seemed that Razzaq had cemented his place in the squad after he chipped in with a series of useful contributions to help Pakistan win the ICC World Twenty20 crown in England this June.
But just weeks after that triumph, the 29-year-old player has been left out in the cold after a spate of unimpressive outings during the disastrous tour of Sri Lanka.
Razzaq was ignored for the Champions Trophy with the national selectors voting in favor of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, another former ICL rebel, for a place in the 15-man touring party for South Africa. Is Razzaq fuming over the decision? If yes, then he is doing a good job to hide his resentment. “I’m obviously disappointed at being dropped for the Champions Trophy,” said Razzaq. “I had regained my fitness and was looking forward to playing in the tournament,” he added. “But I’m very much hopeful of making a comeback soon.”
Razzaq, who has an impressive one-day record with 4529 runs and 250 wickets from 234 outings, will find it really tough to regain a place in the national team.
His batting form has been quite unimpressive since returning to international cricket and with the return of pacers like Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved, it would be difficult for Razzaq to get the selectors’ nod on his medium-pace bowling alone. However, the Lahore-based player is not intimidated by the tough task. “I’ve never avoided hard work and am willing to put in the hours in order to get back my place in the Pakistan team,” said Razzaq, who has played 46 Tests for 100 wickets and 1946 runs. Razzaq said that he had no regrets over quitting the cash-rich ICL in which he was one of the star cricketers. “It (ICL) is a thing of the past and all I’m interested now is to focus on my career with the Pakistan team,” he said.
Razzaq was banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board along with several other compatriots after they switched allegiance to the ICL - an unofficial twenty20 league run by one of the biggest media groups in India. Earlier this year, he severed ties with the ICL after which the PCB pardoned and recalled him in the Pakistan team during the World Twenty20 as a replacement for injured all-rounder Yasir Arafat.
