KARACHI: Out-of-favour Pakistan seamer Umar Gul expressed his indignation at being overlooked for the upcoming matches against England.

While speaking exclusively to Dawn on Saturday, the 32-year-old Umar took a swipe at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for continuously ignoring his claims to play international cricket.

“Look, I’m not saying that they should play me. But at least treat my case on the same level as of others. Usually, it’s not in my nature to speak out my mind. But when people start rating me as a discard then it hurts a lot,” Umar blurted out with a pinch of frustration in his tone. “I have had fair share of injuries during my long international career. Just tell which fast bowler doesn’t get injured? This is part and parcel of cricket.

“However, some people [in the cricket board] make you a fool by jumping to the conclusion that so and so individual’s playing career at the international level is over. And what is more annoying is that when you confront them they’ll act as if nothing has happened and will try to be as supportive as they can but the same people will form different opinion behind your back.

“I was aghast when I found out that the parameter set for fitness criterion selection for the 2015 World Cup was set at 60 points. And yet I was not good enough to be considered [for selection] despite being recording 62 points. Somebody in the PCB must be honest enough to explain this double-standard policy,” Umar added.

He contended being the most experienced of pacemen available for the mega event held in Australia and New Zealand was enough for the Moin Khan-led national selection committee to include him in the squad since he had been doing well in domestic cricket.

“Now I realize that sometime just being fit is not enough to be inducted because the trust is not there. Being the senior-most fast bowler, there was no way they [selectors] could have sidelined me the way they did. They were not willing to trust me as a player,” Umar, who made a sporadic return to international arena after the World Cup, complained.

“In the last season I had rediscovered my rhythm and felt extremely fit to reclaim my Pakistan spot, but the selectors still chose to ignore me.”

Umar, who is in the city these days and playing in various Ramazan tournaments, meanwhile disclosed that he is enjoying bowling with the same zeal when he first took up playing cricket.

“Last night I played for Omar Associates in the Naya Nazimabad competition. Believe me I really enjoyed the competitive nature of these tournaments. I always loved bowling and Friday night was no exception,” the paceman commented. “I had played twice at the Lawai Cricket Stadium and found the surrounding unbelievable. The hill on one side of the ground provided a great spectacle.

“I think this is a great venue to play cricket because the ground has been well maintained and playing under lights here is quite a spectacular sight. The management of Naya Nazimabad has done a great job in developing such a beautiful cricket ground which would make a perfect venue for first-class matches,” Umar remarked. “They deserve to be complimented for their contribution for the game.”

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016