LAHORE, Oct 28: Former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar assailed national selectors Monday for ignoring him for the forthcoming Zimbabwe tour and hinted at possible retirement.

“If Pakistan has a better opener than me he must be selected, but I can’t understand how they ignored me by saying I lack confidence,” Saeed said in an interview.

“I am consulting my seniors and may opt for retirement if the situation remains the same.”

Saeed, 34, who holds the world record for the highest one-day score of 194, failed to find a place in Pakistan’s Test and one-day squad for tour of Zimbabwe.

Saeed blamed selectors for not giving him a chance in this month’s series against Australia.

“Selectors did not pick me for the series against Australia (even though) I had told Waqar Younis and manager Yawar Saeed that I wanted to play,” he said.

“Instead the wrong impression was created that I had asked for rest.”

“I made 52 against Sri Lanka and 28 not out against Holland in the Champions Trophy last month but was axed,” said Saeed.

After tallying 4,052 runs in 55 Tests and 8,605 runs in 242 One-day Internationals, Saeed said he chose to quit two months back when he was dropped for the tri-series in Kenya.

“But selectors picked me for the ICC event,” he said.

Saeed said Pakistan cricket was “at a dangerous crossroads.”

“Interest in cricket has waned and people have stopped watching cricket because of defeats,” he said.

“If quick steps are not taken Pakistan cricket will suffer the same fate as hockey and squash.”—AFP