LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified that Test wicket-keeper/batsman Kamran Akmal was always eligible for selection in the Pakistan team, adding they did not need to issue any clearance for the player’s inclusion in the national squad.

Earlier, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf had said that the Board had sought permission from the ICC for Kamran’s selection.

According to Zaka, the selectors were given a go-ahead to select Kamran after getting nod from the ICC.

However, a report in the British press quoted the head of media and communications of the ICC, Colin Gibson, as saying that selection of players for the Pakistan team is the sole and exclusive responsibility of the PCB.

“The ICC has not issued any form of clearance to the PCB for the selection of any of its players and like all others who are not suspended for any reason from participating, [Kamran] Akmal remains eligible for selection for the Pakistan national team should Pakistan decide to select him,” Gibson said.

Kamran was sidelined by the selectors after his name surfaced during the spot-fixing trial in London last year prompting suspicions about his links with bookmaker Mazhar Majeed.

The veteran glovesman was though recalled by the national selectors for the upcoming Twenty20 assignments after he made a final appearance before the PCB integrity committee.

When contacted, a PCB official said unnecessary controversies were being created out of the Kamran issue.

“What the chairman [Zaka] meant was that as is the practice the PCB made some inquiries from the ICC about Kamran but it does not need to seek clearance from anyone for his selection,” he remarked.

Kamran on his part has constantly claimed his innocence, insisting he has no links with bookmakers.—Agencies