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KARACHI: Former Pakistan players on Thursday urged a boycott of the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual awards ceremony over the omission of spinner Saeed Ajmal from the shortlist for Test player of the year.
An independent jury comprising former players, officials and mediamen provoked anger in Pakistan after omitting the wily off-spinner from the shortlist of four candidates, which includes Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, Australian Michael Clarke and South Africans Vernon Philander and Hashim Amla.
Ajmal, 34, took 72 wickets in 12 Tests from August 2011 to July this year, including 24 wickets in a 3-0 rout of then world number one team England in January-February.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this week lodged a protest with the ICC demanding a review of the shortlist for the September 15 ceremony to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. But the ICC said an independent jury had decided the list.
“The way the ICC has ignored Ajmal is unjust and the PCB must convey its reservations by boycotting the awards ceremony in Sri Lanka,” former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif told AFP.
Former batsman Basit Ali urged the PCB not to accept the decision.
“The decision to leave out Ajmal is inexplicable and Pakistan must not attend the ceremony,” he said.
Mohsin Khan, the former opener who coached the team that beat England this year, said the selection process should not come down to personal preferences.
“This ICC process to shortlist players is clearly flawed because cricket is all about performance, not personal likes and dislikes. Better if the PCB boycotts the awards function,” Khan said.
“It will at least send out a strong message to the ICC. South Africa also did it in 2009 when their deserving players were ignored for the awards.”
The PCB said it was considering the option of boycotting the event. A final decision is expected within the next few days.
“If anyone else has more wickets than Ajmal, then we are ready to withdraw our concern and instead we will support their pick. But this isn't reflecting well on the ICC and they should rectify it,”
PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf told local media.
Around 150 youngsters took to the streets in Lahore to protest against Ajmal's omission.
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On DawnNews
Comments (62) Closed
Sep 06, 2012 09:16pm
Who is begging? No one. We are standing up for our rights. We believe Ajmal belongs in the short list because his performance is exemplary. And to prove our point if we choose to boycott something so be it. Simple as that.He single-handedly destroyed England in UAE, you were not obviously watching or you wouldn't give these snide and immature remarks.
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Sep 08, 2012 11:14am
I think ajmal action is that confusing it is difficult to know which ball he not throwing I dont know how he was cleared by icc needs to recheck by icc
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Sep 06, 2012 12:15pm
Ajmal is a throw bowler
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Sep 07, 2012 10:22am
Umpire from Pakistan is continuously winning the ICC awards. In my personal opinion i dont think pakistan should boycott it.
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Sep 06, 2012 03:50pm
All the nation is behind PCB on this one
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Sep 08, 2012 08:39am
wonderful suggestion, I approved.
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Sep 08, 2012 08:42am
Dear keep your opinion with you, Pakistan must boycott the ICC Awards Cer.
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Sep 07, 2012 01:08am
Pakistani player will enver win as long as India owns ICC and teh Australian and English remain biased
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Sep 06, 2012 04:19pm
its likely to be........... not finalized yet we can not depend upon our govt. and PCB lets c ..........
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Sep 06, 2012 11:20am
Alhamdolillah !! A very good move by PCB. Hope and pray that they stick to their Stand. We as nation are behind PCB for this brave move. Well done Zaka Ashraf. We love you Sir !!
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Sep 06, 2012 01:15pm
I say boycott International cricket and save the game from match fixers. Pakistan isn't doing a favor to cricket anyways. Cry baby cry..
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Sep 06, 2012 02:45pm
You are suggesting that the nation is supposed to cancel everything else until the solution of the case of an 11 year old?
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Sep 06, 2012 09:11pm
What do you mean cry baby? Cant you read? Ajmal's figures speak for themselves. Tell us honestly why you think he should not be on the shortlist. Looks like you know nothing about cricket.
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Sep 06, 2012 03:43pm
pl get ur eyes tested
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Sep 06, 2012 10:57pm
PCB should not be emotional. They did the right thing by protesting. Next right thing to do is BOYCOTT the discriminatory ceremony. And this is not emotional. This is Dignity/Self Respect ;).
Do you think if PCB attends the ceremony, ICC or anyone else will think high or better of us.. NO they wont change.
Boycott the ceremony and you make it clear that we dont agree with ICC, attend the ceremony and you agree that AJMAL dint deserve to be shortlisted.. simple as that...
Theres no sportmanship issues etc crap.... anyone concerned about matchfixers--well pakistan's naive players coerced into match fixing have been punished more severely than worldwide established corrupt players. So ICC shouldnt take that into account for awards ;)
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Sep 07, 2012 12:20pm
I watched him and I strongly believe his action is suspect. ICC cleared him, and at that time no one called ICC biased and now ICC is biased ? Whenever Pakistan wins all is well for Pakistanis, but whenever they loose they claim the match was fixed ! I can quote several examples. Why is that ? Whenever things go wrong for you, you guys try to destroy the very integrity of the system.
Destruction of English batsmen in UAE is not a big deal for a spinner. I repeat that it will be foolish on part of Pakistan to boycott ICC awards ceremony and think 2 steps beyond that. No one will really care.
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Sep 06, 2012 01:34pm
cricket is more important to "Us as a nation" than the life of an 11 year old. "SubhanAllah"
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Sep 08, 2012 08:49am
why you people are scared with ajmal? If he has the tallent he has, please eccept the reality.
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Sep 06, 2012 01:51pm
Whatever happened to sportsmanlike behavior ? Decisions sometimes go against one, unfairly, but that does not call for this kind of undignified response. Saeed Ajmal should strive to do even better and make those biased against him recognize his effort, like Usain Bolt. For now, he should remember Marcus Cato who said " I would rather have men ask why I have no statue, than why I have one".
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Sep 06, 2012 02:26pm
You watch too much baseball to know what cricket is all about. Throw bowler indeed. You must be talking about Lasit Malinga.
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Sep 08, 2012 08:52am
I don't agree with your logic. The PCB registerred there protest by boycotting the ceremony.
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Sep 06, 2012 02:12pm
If they had included Ajmal's name, how woudl that change anythying in Pakistan or Pkaistni cricket other than boosting our ego? Please let us stop being emotional and focus on what is important.
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Sep 06, 2012 02:23pm
Why are you connecting 11 year old Ramsha with game of Cricket.If you don't like sports then go to a masjid and become a Mullah.Narrow minded !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sep 06, 2012 12:23pm
ICC has all along ignored Pakistan as if they are not part of the game. Influential members have tried to ruin international cricket in Pakistan by putting a ban on teams visiting Pakistan. It is high time that ICC should know that these kinds of actions are not liked in Pakistan. They change the rules when England says to include there player for the award but snub Pakistan when same thing is said.
Pakistan should boycott the awards ceremony.
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Sep 06, 2012 05:32pm
"Boycotting will send strong signals" to whom? In current circumstances nobody cares about pakistan cricket.This is nothing but pakistan's desperate attempt for attention.
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Sep 06, 2012 12:11pm
Loosers. It is like begging - either let us win OR give us awards because cricket is our only hope. Pakistanis always blame BCCI to try to armtwist ICC, I wonder if PCB had same resources as BCCI what they would have done!
ICC is not going to change its decision based on blackmail tactics and it is foolish decision on part of PCB.
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Sep 08, 2012 08:55am
you must be a part of indian loby who always disgraced pakistan by all mean. think possitive.
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Sep 06, 2012 07:16pm
Match fixing isn't just Pakistan problem, rather the whole cricket nations. Corruption is big part of Cricket sadly
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Sep 10, 2012 04:45am
Do it nobody will even bother
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Sep 06, 2012 03:16pm
Maybe Ajmal bhai should try bowling without his full sleeve shirts. LOL!
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Sep 07, 2012 03:47am
What about English who introduced gambling and legalised it by passing an act in the parliament decades ago (India existed at that time while Pakistan did not)? what about the circus called IPL which is nothing but gambling? Main culprits are some one else who always put Pakistan in the spot light and escape from the backdoor
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Sep 07, 2012 12:09am
Voice of reason, cannot agree more
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Sep 06, 2012 03:57pm
Thanks WER!! I absolutely agree! how shameful for the nation!
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Sep 06, 2012 03:58pm
oh may goog pak and pcb are getting competent!
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Sep 06, 2012 03:58pm
So what u keep ur mouth shut
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Sep 06, 2012 07:43pm
The PCB can go two ways. One attend the ceremony, and next time a Pakistan wins this award, don't go.
Second don't attend the ceremony.
I think when Pakistani player does win he should refuse to take the award. That will show that we don't care about the award. Anway Ajmal is doing so well that his name will come up next year, and then he should tell where the ICC, can go.(HELL)
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Sep 06, 2012 07:41pm
I agree with Junaid. Exclusion of Ajmal is a serious concern and has to be rectified. An official letter of concern has to be sent to ICC to explain the reason as to why was Ajmal not considered. Once PCB finds out the reason, then think about boycotting the ceremony. SA boycotted it in the past, it was a totally different scenario back in 2009.
ICC can not single out a country because of no valid reason.....
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Sep 06, 2012 07:35pm
Ernst and Young???
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Sep 06, 2012 07:34pm
Yes. As any boycott will further alienate the team and board. They most likely don't care enough if Pakistan attend or not.
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Sep 08, 2012 09:31am
Accept the reality that We Pakistanies are the best. work hard. Ajmal your are No.1.
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Sep 07, 2012 01:11am
Have some self respect for once. If you do not protest they will not care that is how the west works. They are bullies and you have to stand up to them.
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Sep 06, 2012 10:22pm
There is nothing childish about letting your displeasure be known. If takes a boycott, then so be it.
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Sep 07, 2012 01:14am
We have all seen how BCCI behaves when they don't get what they even do not desrve.
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Sep 07, 2012 01:14am
Another narrow minded indian
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Sep 07, 2012 02:16am
It shows the ICC's historic bias agaisnt Pakistan.
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Sep 09, 2012 07:51am
I agree. Moreover what PCB has done to recognize Saeed Ajmal's efforts.
Pakistan should keep a low profile and try to improve their game in all format of cricket.
Priority for Pakistan is to restore its credibility.
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Sep 06, 2012 01:03pm
Its right suggestion that PCB should boycott the ceremony of ICC awards, if they don't add the name of Saeed Ajmal in the short list. PCB should protest against this injustice.
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Sep 07, 2012 04:46am
Agree with Junaid - I thought the PCB would behave better now that Ijaz Butt has been replaced.
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Sep 08, 2012 06:38pm
Not fair Sir, He is a class act but he does not have the right to be elected to the position we are talking about.
If you are cricket lovers learn to respect each other. Have your say without being abusive. Thank you.
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Sep 06, 2012 03:13pm
Boycotting will not send a positive message to anyone. PCB has to create a positive image in the ICC specialy after the match fixing scandal. Pakistani team is not well liked in international arena due to several reasons of the past. Now boycotting will be addition to the pile. PCB's official protest was good enough reaction. I think PCB will be more respected if it simply attends the ceremony with ' agree to disagree' attitude.
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Sep 07, 2012 03:10am
finally enough is enough pakistan should have done that when they entrap our players in england what is icc nothing they are not god
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Sep 06, 2012 07:45pm
PiroShah:Even after staying in the West bhaniya mentality will not change.
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Sep 06, 2012 12:47pm
I completely agree with PCB. ICC just cannot rely on E&Y for the selection. Having worked for one of the big five, I can tell how influencing the internal politics and personal preferences/favoritism are in these organizations.
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Sep 07, 2012 11:39am
well said. agreed
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Sep 07, 2012 06:08am
Even if included Ajmal is unlikely to win. Boycott the ceremony would not achieve much. Publish the names of experts and boycott their services. Best revenge is served cold. Beat South Africa in SA and win the T-20 world cup. We have the potential and this incident can be the spark which ignites the ignored Tigers.
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Sep 07, 2012 01:42pm
Have your eyes tested.....
72 wickets in 12 tests don't come via throwing
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Sep 07, 2012 11:38am
Aamir Sohail and Abdul Majid Bhatti were from Pakistan, among the panel of those 30 "experts". I do not know the names of the rest.
ICC should also publicize the names of the panel experts and their opinion to make the process transparent. This will reduce the chances of biases.
In the future, ICC should remove the panel and introduce an objective criteria based on scoring, directly related to on-field performances on fielding, bowling, batting and keeping. The criteria should be published and well understood by all. A lay-man having a calculator-expertise should also be able to calcualte who is the top performer. This will remove all flaws from the subjective selection by the "experts".
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Sep 07, 2012 06:16am
Does any one here remember that 9 decisions went against Pakistan in 1st Cricket test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and that too were made by ICC Umpires (who knows they were instructed to give 9 horrendous decisions) against Pakistan.I can digest one or two,but 9 decisions in match is bit difficult to digest.Just wondering whether its conspiracy hatched at ICC HQ.Its anybody guess that now this incident has confirmed conspiracy theory.
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Sep 06, 2012 02:21pm
If he is, Then why dont you make a case against him? Prove it if you are right or else keep Quiet. He has been cleared by the ICC for your information Mr Ahmed !
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Sep 06, 2012 06:53pm
Sir, Pakistan has every right to appeal to ICC for this injustice, if at all they feel so. Well once the appeal has been heard and the decision reviewed and it still the original decision stays, please accept it with grace. Pakistan is already a victim of circumstances as for as this game of cricket is concerned, it should not further damage its cause by taking any such emotional decision. That is my view whether it is us or you. People may differ but that is the gentlemanliness to swim with the stream rather than to stray away and then feel frustrated for getting isolated.
BNA
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Sep 06, 2012 08:19pm
This is childish and not like sprtmanship. My way is highway?
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Sep 08, 2012 09:11am
Dear Shree I am sure that you are from india, and please be accept the reality that the Pakistani bowlers are the best (in past, and now) if you don't know asked to Tendulkar, gangoli and the rest of indian cricket players.
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