Moin slams overseas players over refusal to play in Pakistan

SHARJAH: Quetta Gladiators’ coach Moin Khan has taken a swipe at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over its inability to ensure participation of foreign players in the Pakistan leg of the PSL.

Moin, a former Pakistan Test captain, told reporters in Sharjah that the PCB should only include those foreign players in the player draft who are ready to play in Pakistan.“I blame the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for this sad situation. I know the board will not like my comments. However, in future, only those overseas players should be included in the player draft, who commit to also play in Pakistan, if required by their franchises,” Moin said.

As the T20 league gets ready to move to Lahore and Karachi for the playoffs and final, there are reports that many of the PSL’s foreign players are unwilling to make the trip to Pakistan.Moin’s Quetta is bound to be among the worst affected teams as they rely on their foreign players including the star duo of Kevin Pietersen and Shane Watson.

Moin commented that the foreign players who are refusing to play in Pakistan cannot be seen as supportive of Pakistan cricket.“The franchises pay them well to play in the PSL. However, when they refuse to travel to Pakistan, it upsets the balance of the concerned franchises, and also deprives our people of seeing competitive cricket,” he said.

Agencies add: In 2017, in March, after the PSL final was held in Lahore, all the foreign players, including Kevin Pietersen, Rilee Rouwsee, Luke Wright, appearing for Quetta in the league matches, in UAE, refused to travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns.

Their absence upset the Quetta team balance and gave a clear edge to its final opponents, Peshawar Zalmi, whose foreign stars played in Lahore.Moin said that from 2019, when the PSL is held, only those overseas players should be included in the players draft, who are willing to go to Pakistan.

“I am more concerned over Pakistan cricket and the PSL future. We can’t have this happening all the time. This year also, a number of overseas players have made it clear that they wouldn’t travel to Lahore and Karachi, if required by their franchises.”

Moin said that he was disappointed at the umpiring standards in the PSL, and how West Indian, Sunil Narine, had been allowed to continue to bowl in the tournament, despite so many questions over his bowling action.

He noted that when the technical committee of the PSL refused permission to Mohammad Hafeez to bowl for Peshawar Zalmis, how could the match officials ignore Narine’s action.

The West Indian spinner, on Friday, was reported for having a suspected illegal bowling action, but can continue to bowl in the PSL. However, if reported again he will be suspended from bowling.