KARACHI, June 19: The glaring omission of Shahid Afridi from the list of Asia Cup probables is the latest example of Pakistan Cricket Board's shabby treatment towards the 24-year-old all-rounder.

"Enough is enough. Why always Shahid Afridi is singled out for such step-motherly treatment by the PCB officials," Salahuddin Ahmed, the former Test cricketer and ex-chairman of the national selectors, said while talking to Dawn on Saturday. "One can't recall a single instance of a player being so harshly treated by the narrow-minded officials of the cricket board."

Afridi, who played three One-day Internationals against India in the home series last March, was on Friday surprisingly overlooked by the national selection committee while naming 26 probables for the Asia Cup camp that begins in Lahore from June 28.

The hard-hitting right-hander, who has to his credit the fastest ever one-day century, blasted 80 off 58 balls and took two for 57 in the second ODI at Rawalpindi against the Indians in his first match for Pakistan for more than a year.

"This is simply hard to understand as to why a player like Afridi has been sidelined yet again. Wasn't his performance (against India) upto the mark," Salahuddin asked. "Admittedly he had two bad games following his Pindi heroics. But it doesn't mean that you throw him out in the wilderness. He has suffered as far as his confidence is concerned with the constant chopping and changing."

He was critical of the selection policies adopted by the PCB hierarchy and accused it of double standards.

"At the same, the selectors have the habit of obliging their favourites who had flopped time and again. There is no consistent policy in the selection matters. The other day Pakistan 'A' probables were announced without Afridi being named in the list.

"The PCB's claims of being fair to each and every player is nothing but rubbish. Shoaib Akhtar is overtly pampered to the extent that there is no end to the preferential treatment given the so-called Rawalpindi Express. Where is the discipline factor?"

He minced no words in saying that the current PCB chief is playing into the hands of his advisors just like his predecessor. "With scant knowledge of the game at his disposal, the chairman has become an easy prey for the advisors of the PCB.

"This is bad omen for Pakistan cricket, when people like Hanif Mohammad who is held in high esteem by such greats as Garfield Sobers and Geoffrey Boycott are ignored. You can't find a better batting coach than Hanif who was a perfectionist.

"Greats like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis can do a first-rate job as bowling coaches but the PCB continues to keep them away for vested interests. Is this the way one treats national heroes who are true legends of the game?" Salahuddin added.