PCB writes to ICC over Ajmal`s omission from awards` list

Lahore: Expressing its concern over ICC`s decision to omit off-spinner Saeed Ajmal`s name from the shortlist of nominees for the annual awards, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written a letter to the ICC for reconsidering the list.

Ajmal, despite finishing as the top Test wicket-taker in the last 12 months, has not been included among the four nominees for the coveted Test Cricketer of the Year award. "Yes, we have sent a letter to the ICC expressing our concern over Ajmal`s name from the final list of nominees for the annual awards," PCB media manager, Nadeem Sarwar said. "We feel that there might have been an oversight by the ICC panel of experts and this issue needs to be reconsidered again," he said without divulging the exact details of the letter. Former Test players, commentators and experts including former England captain Tony Greig, New Zealand`s Danny Morrison and a number of ex-Pakistani cricketers have already expressed their shock over Ajmal`s omission from the nominees list for the Test cricketer of the year award. Ajmal, after being named in the ICC`s Test team of the year, was left out from the shortlist of nominees for the ICC international cricketer, Test cricketer and ODI player of the year awards. The 34-year-old finished with 72 wickets in Tests and was placed No.2 in the list of top wicket-takers for One-dayers in the period reviewed by the ICC panel of experts. Sources in the PCB said that in the letter the Board has pointed out individual cases where players, who finished behind Ajmal, got into the final list. "The PCB has pointed out individual cases where players who finished behind Ajmal got into the final list. They have asked the ICC to reconsider the list again," a source said. In the past, protests from member boards have led to the ICC reconsidering the final list of nominees and changing them. In 2010, England`s spinner Graeme Swann was omitted from a shortlist but was included later after the England and Wales Cricket Board pleaded his case, while in 2009 the South Africans boycotted the ICC awards ceremony in Johannesburg over the omission of their players. Ajmal, who is also doing well against the Australia in the ongoing ODI series in the UAE, has been in superb form in the last 12 months during which period, Pakistan played most of their matches on the slow pitches of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. He took 24 wickets in Pakistan`s 3-0 Test rout of England at the start of the year. South Africa`s top run-getter Hashim Amla and pacer Vernon Philander, Sri Lanka`s batsman Kumar Sangakkara and Australian captain Michael Clarke have been shortlisted for the Test cricketer of the year award. PTI