Pakistan former captain Shoaib Malik and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal have been denied permission by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play league cricket in Bangladesh. Following their exclusion from Pakistan’s squad for the tour of New Zealand after the PCB’s Integrity Committee did not “give them clearance”, Akmal and Malik’s requests for no-objection certificates to the board for playing in Bangladesh have also been rejected. “I was very keen to go and play in the Bangladesh league but the board has told us to just focus on playing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in domestic cricket,” Kamran was quoted as saying on Saturday. “I had got a good offer and wanted to go and play there but unfortunately the clearance has not come.”
Both had questioned the PCB for leaving them out of the team touring New Zealand. Kamran had been cleared for selection by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he had written to them asking if he was under investigation for any corruption. Along with Salman Butt, who has been provisionally suspended by the ICC for his alleged involvement in the spot-fixing controversy, Akmal was sent a notice by the ICC during the tour of England in August seeking information about events related to the 2010 World Twenty20 held in the Caribbean in May.
Last month, a Pakistan news channel aired footage featuring alleged bookmaker Mazhar Majeed claiming Kamran was among seven players obeying his orders during matches. Kamran admitted Majeed was his marketing agent but denied that he had been involved in any wrongdoing. Kamran was also dropped following the Sydney Test earlier in the year for his poor wicketkeeping and again during the tour of England in August for the second Test. Malik, like Kamran, has been in good form in the domestic first-class tournament but hasn’t found a place in the national team since August this year.
Both had questioned the PCB for leaving them out of the team touring New Zealand. Kamran had been cleared for selection by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he had written to them asking if he was under investigation for any corruption. Along with Salman Butt, who has been provisionally suspended by the ICC for his alleged involvement in the spot-fixing controversy, Akmal was sent a notice by the ICC during the tour of England in August seeking information about events related to the 2010 World Twenty20 held in the Caribbean in May.
Last month, a Pakistan news channel aired footage featuring alleged bookmaker Mazhar Majeed claiming Kamran was among seven players obeying his orders during matches. Kamran admitted Majeed was his marketing agent but denied that he had been involved in any wrongdoing. Kamran was also dropped following the Sydney Test earlier in the year for his poor wicketkeeping and again during the tour of England in August for the second Test. Malik, like Kamran, has been in good form in the domestic first-class tournament but hasn’t found a place in the national team since August this year.
