KARACHI, Aug 20: Out-of-favour Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq dropped a bombshell on Monday by announcing his retirement from international cricket in a decision that he described as registering protest at his omission from the national squad for next month’s Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.

Razzaq, who is due to begin a short stint with the English county side Worcestershire from Tuesday, made the startling announcement on a private TV channel from England while lambasting the national selection committee for overlooking his credentials when the 15-man Pakistan squad was picked a fortnight ago.

“I am mentally disturbed over the treatment meted out by the selectors who treated me like a newcomer and I have taken this decision under protest,” the 27-year-old said. “I also believe the selectors want to drop me from Test and ODI cricket as well.”

Razzaq, who did not ink his signature on the six-month central contract despite the passage of Aug 15 deadline, also took a swipe at the Pakistan Cricket Board and added that he didn’t received a word from the cricket board since he was axed.

“I’m deeply disappointed at the attitude of the PCB officials since no one bothered to contact me after I was dropped,” he said.

However, the disgruntled cricketer admitted that he would await the response of both the selectors and PCB before having a second thought at his rather hasty decision. “Before reviewing the decision I will wait for the response of the selectors and the PCB since I have taken this route under protest. Why is the PCB acting like this with players, trying to get rid of all the seniors? There can be reconciliation, provided the PCB is willing to listen to the players’ grievances.”

Apart from Razzaq, senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf was also not considered for the Twenty20 event with the selectors officially saying the duo were being rested for the hectic international season.

But it was a reason which Razzaq found hard to digest and believed it was a pretext for him being dropped from the side. The day after he was left out of the South Africa-bound squad, he lashed out publicly at the PCB and its selectors in a scathing TV interview.

“I deserved the benefit of being treated as a senior player on form and fitness and on my record as an international player. But I was hurt when they dropped me,” he grumbled.

Razzaq, who missed the World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year because of a knee injury, scored 1,146 runs and took 100 wickets in 46 Tests. He made 4,465 runs and claimed 240 wickets in 231 One-day Internationals in a Pakistan career which began in 1996-97.

Chairman of selectors, Salahuddin Ahmed — upset by this sudden development — rejected suggestions that the Lahore-born player was being booted out of international cricket.

“I must make it clear once again that we picked the squad [for the Twenty20 tournament] on sheer merit. There was no discrimination against any player and the best squad was selected after considering all available options,” he told Dawn.

The chief selector reiterated that Razzaq’s omission didn’t mean the end to his international career. “I sincerely hope that he [Razzaq] reconsiders his decision because he still has a future with Pakistan cricket.”

Facts and figures, however, suggest that Razzaq had only himself to blame for his axing. During the last 15 One-day Internationals, he scored a mere 173 runs (ave 17.30) and took only 12 wickets (ave 39.33). Astonishingly, he had remained wicketless in seven of the last nine ODIs when he was asked to bowl those ‘once’ nippy medium-pacers.

In this period his highest score (38 not out) and best bowling (4-50 in 7.2 overs) which came in the same match — against Sri Lanka at Jaipur in the ICC Champions Trophy last October.

Razzaq, who has been strongly linked with the breakaway Indian Cricket League, claimed his decision had no linkage with the planned rebel series.

“I have not signed any deal with them [ICL], but if I get the same treatment from my own people, I might be forced to join the league. However, my decision to retire has nothing to do with the ICL,” he clarified.

“I have an offer from them (ICL) but I have not yet confirmed it. I may decide in the next few days.”