Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) after several first-choice New Zealand cricketers have pulled out of their upcoming Pakistan tour. However, they will play in the second half of Indian Premier League 2021, which is all set to start on September 19 in the UAE.
He also said that modern-day cricketers are focusing more on franchise cricket, as a result the standard of international cricket is degrading as well. While speaking on his YouTube channel, Inzamam-ul-Haq said: “Wherever the Pakistan team is going, they are not getting a chance to play against the main players. When we went to South Africa in April, they sent their players for the IPL. With the upcoming NZ series in Pakistan, eight NZ players have opted out of the tour to play IPL. Even in the recent England tour, the whole England team got changed due to COVID-19 in the camp.”
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He further added: “I feel that the Pakistan team is not getting proper practice because they are not getting to play against the main players. What is the ICC doing? What message are they trying to give? Players are giving importance to private leagues and not international cricket. It’s like degrading international cricket. If you see the whole sequence, it’s happening only against Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has released seven cricketers who will play in the rest of IPL 2021 to be played in the UAE. Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner and Tim Seifert along with captain Kane Williamson are the other players who have been released by the NZC as well.
On the other hand, Tom Latham will lead the squad, with New Zealand scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is against Pakistan as well.
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New Zealand squad for Pakistan ODIs: Tom Latham (c/wk), Finn Allen, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry (ODI only), Scott Kuggeleijn, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears (T20 only), Blair Tickner, Will Young
New Zealand squad for Pakistan T20Is: Tom Latham (c/wk), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Mark Chapman, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears, Blair Tickner, Will Young.
