PCB rejects ODI captain Azhar’s resignation over Amir’s inclusion

Lahore, Dec 30: Pakistan One-Day International (ODI) skipper Azhar Ali, who resigned over tainted paceman Mohammed Amir being included in the national training camp, on Tuesday finally agreed to continue leading the side after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan intervened in the issue.

The players, including Azhar Ali and Mohammed Hafeez, had even refused to join the national camp, protesting the presence of left-armer Amir, who was found guilty in the 2010 spot fixing scandal.

“Azhar Ali met the PCB chairman (Shaharyar Khan). He tendered his resignation. The chairman didn’t accept his resignation, Azhar Ali agreed and he will continue as captain,” the PCB said in a statement.

Amir, 23, served a five-year ban after being indicted in the scandal during a Test series in England and was allowed to bowl in domestic cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Amir is in the selection mix for the first time after his five-year ban for spot-fixing. He was one of the 26 probables named for Pakistan’s pre-season conditioning camp.

Azhar and Hafeez were originally scheduled to join the camp after completing domestic matches, but they did not do so. Azhar went on to state that he would not attend the camp “as long as Amir is there”. PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan then persuaded both Hafeez and Azhar to join the camp.

“I do respect their concerns but some of them, I told them, are not acceptable. So they understood and confirmed that they are on the same page with us,” the PCB chairman said. (IANS)