The Pakistan cricket administrators had ignored the advice of itspanel of doctors while selecting all rounder Abdur Razzaq for theSharjah Cup

23-Apr-2001The Pakistan cricket administrators had ignored the advice of itspanel of doctors while selecting all rounder Abdur Razzaq for theSharjah Cup. A doctor in the panel told Dawn on the condition ofanonymity, that Razzaq was declared medically unfit to tour or evenplay in the desert city.”But our opinion was not taken into consideration,” he said.The director of the PCB, Brig Munawwar Rana, without commenting on thecontents of Razzaq’s medical report, said: “All I can say is that wehave a medical report on Razzaq.”Razzaq represented Pakistan in the Sharjah Cup after he returned lastmonth from the tour to New Zealand because of dehydration thatweakened his muscles.The doctor further revealed that the panel’s observation on Razzaq wasbased on the all rounder’s sole visit to them.”Razzaq was asked to come back to us but he never turned up. In fact,we asked Razzaq thrice through the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tovisit us. But for some reason or the other, we didn’t see him.”Interestingly, when the chairman of selectors, Wasim Bari had beenquestioned on the inclusion of Razzaq, the former Test captain hadexpressed his ignorance about his fitness. He had then said that hiscommittee had been informed by the concerned authority that he wasavailable for selection.The doctor also blamed the cricket administrators for the breakingdown of paceman Shoaib Akhtar whose tour to New Zealand was shortenedafter he was again reported for a suspect bowling action.”The panel (of doctors) felt that Shoaib was not fit and needed atleast six more weeks to strengthen his muscles. But our opinion wasagain rejected.”Shoaib was included for the tour to New Zealand after a 10- month layoff.Ironically, the same panel of doctors will determine the fitness ofWasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Moin Khan and Shoaib Akhtar for nextmonth’s tour to England.It wouldn’t be a surprise if at least three, including Wasim and Moin,fail fitness tests despite appearing in two one-day tournament matchesfor PIA at Sheikhupura against Pakistan Customs and Habib Bank.