 Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board has apparently issued a show cause notice to allrounder Abdul Razzaq for making contentious remarks after returning from Sri Lanka with the national team.
Sources close to Razzaq said he had got a notice today regarding his remarks about his selection for the ICC World Twenty20 semi-final against Sri Lanka.
Razzaq blamed captain Mohammad Hafeez for dropping him while the latter told reporters after returning from Sri Lanka that the decision was taken by the team management.
Razzaq asked Hafeez to own up to his decision and speak the truth, signaling the first signs of discontent within the team.
To complicate matters further, a tweet was posted last night on an account credited to the Pakistan captain, in which he derided the remarks made by Razzaq and advised him to keep such matters in the dressing room.
Although Hafeez has denied posting anything on twitter, he has been also quoted as saying that the truth about selection issues would come out soon and that while he believed no one player was responsible for a team`s defeat or victory he accepted responsibility for Pakistan`s defeat to the Lankans in the semi final.
Sources said PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf was clearly not amused with the situation and had asked both Razzaq and Hafeez to meet him in his office tomorrow.
"The comments made by Razzaq and Hafeez have ignited another controversy in Pakistan cricket and clearly the board Chairman wants to snuff this out before it gets worse," the source said.
The source said Razzaq had been asked to explain his contentious remarks to the media and was reminded that as a centrally contracted player he was bound by the code of conduct for all players.
Interestingly, coach Dav Whatmore has remained mum on the whole issue since returning with the players yesterday.
"The board Chairman is also expected to meet with the coach and manager," the source said.
Hafeez has been under fire from the media since Pakistan lost to India in the World Twenty20 and has been criticized for taking unilateral decisions while ignoring advice from the team management and selectors.
The Pakistan T20 captain has also blamed the media for carrying on a media trial against him and passing unfair judgments on him.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, October 7, 2012, 23:26
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