Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal Dropped on Misbah-ul-Haq's Insistence
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq had suggested in their reports that Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal be dropped from the national team for at least a year so the duo could change their attitude towards the game.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and head coach Waqar Younis wanted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to sideline Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal from the national team for at least a year to force them to improve their attitudes. (Ajmal Returns to Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh Tour)
According to a report on Geo News channel, Misbah and Waqar in their tour reports after the World Cup stated that Shehzad and Umar refused to change their attitude and approach to cricket. (Waqar Complains of Umar's Behaviour)
The report said the captain and coach had noted that despite being told many times to play responsibly and change their attitude for the team, Shehzad and Umar continued to show reckless attitude in their approach to the game, letting the team down time and again.
Incidentally, both players along with opener, Nasir Jamshed were on Friday dropped for the Test and one-day series in Bangladesh by the new selection committee with only Shehzad being retained for the lone T20 match.
"The PCB had decided to go with the suggestions of Misbah and Waqar and drop the two for all three formats but the national T20 captain, Shahid Afridi insisted on having Shehzad in his team," the report said.
Apparently Afridi, who is known to have always played a mentor's role for Shehzad, said he wanted the opener in the side as the team did not have much exposure in international matches. They will need some experience for World T20 in India early next year.
A source close to the selectors told PTI the idea behind dropping both the cricketers from the Test and ODI squads was to make them realise that they needed to change their attitude to wear Pakistan colors again.
"They are not being discounted out for ever but we want them to come to us first and show that they need to mature as players and with their attitude," the source said.
Shehzad incidentally scored 176 in his last Test innings against New Zealand last November and the source said it was apparent he was not dropped because of his cricketing abilities or performances.
The training camp for the Pakistan team begins from Monday in Lahore.