PCBs double standards ruining cricket in Pak: Akhtar

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has said that the Pakistan Cricket Boards (PCB) double standards are ruining the game of cricket in the country.

Lahore, Feb 9 : Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has said that the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) double standards are ruining the game of cricket in the country.

Akhtar told reporters at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here that he was unable to understand the board's 'inconsistent policies'.

"I was made a scapegoat after Pakistan lost the Test and ODI series in India. I bowled my heart out with 17 overs during the Bangalore Test just to hear that I was unfit and now, suddenly, the PCB considers me fit enough to lead a team in the Pentangular Cup," he added.

Akhtar said he agreed with former captain Imran Khan that he (Akhtar) was made a scapegoat for the series loss in India and dropped from the team for the Zimbabwe series.

He said that he had played international cricket even with 102 temperature because playing for Pakistan was the only preference for him.

"I wanted to play the ODI series against Zimbabwe for getting match practice but was dropped from the team on the flimsy pretext that I was unfit," the Daily Times quoted Akhtar, as saying.

Akhtar said he was honoured to lead the Federal team, and added that he will prove his fitness with long and accurate spells during the Pentangular Cup.

He said he would also invite the PCB officials, who were always sitting in their luxurious offices, to see his fitness level.

Akhtar said he does not need any central contract for representing Pakistan in cricket world and he would not sign any retainership.

"Central contracts are not an issue because I play for my country and not for money. I will not accept retainership," he said.

Without naming anyone, Akhtar said it was strange that a cricketer who had not played international cricket for the last three months was put in the category A. "It is all double standards," he said.

ANI