'ICC has no role in Riaz selection'

The Pakistan Cricket Board has insisted it included controversial paceman Wahab Riaz in the national squad after getting clearance from the International Cricket Council, a claim vehemently denied by the world governing body on Saturday.

According to a report in the Express Tribune newspaper, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said in an interview that the PCB had sought clarification from the ICC on the issue of selecting Wahab.

“Since his name was mentioned in the spot-fixing trial in London, as a precautionary measure we didn’t consider him for the matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. But we inquired from the ICC if they had any evidence suggesting that Wahab might also be involved in the scandal,” said Ashraf. “It was only after the ICC informed us they had no evidence against Wahab that we told the selectors they should decide if they want him in the team for the England series,” he added.

However, the ICC on Saturday came up with a statement, rejecting Ashraf’s claim. The ICC said it had nothing to do with the selection of Riaz in the Pakistan side for the England series and the decision has been made by the PCB alone.

“I have said before and reiterate that the ICC has no part to play in the selection of any team. It remains the absolute right of a Member Board to decide which player it wishes to include in a squad or select in its team for any match,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.

“Only if a player has been charged and/or provisionally suspended by the ICC and/or banned by an independent tribunal, he will not be cleared for selection. In all other circumstances, it is the Member Board’s absolute right to select players,” Lorgat added. Initially, the PCB had denied that it had asked for advice from the ICC for considering Riaz for selection.