UNI

Lahore, Aug 24: Senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all- rounder Abdul Razzaq were omitted from Pakistan's squad for next month's Twenty20 World Cup as skipper Shoaib Malik did not want them in the team, according to a media report.

The Dawn claimed that Shoaib voiced his opposition to their inclusion when the National selection committee, headed by Salahuddin Ahmed, asked him to give his input on the team selection.

Quoting sources, the newspaper said Shoaib didn't feel comfortable with the idea of having a senior player like Yousuf in the squad considering his lack of athleticism in the field coupled with a weak throwing arm.

Shoaib had told the selectors that Razzaq was not worth a place for the Twenty20 format since his medium-pace bowling had lost the nip to unsettle batsmen.

“The ball barely reaches the wicket-keeper at a decent pace when Razzaq bowls these days,” the captain, according to paper, had told the selectors.

Salahuddin and his fellow selectors - Saleem Jaffer and Shafqat Rana - had been facing a barrage of criticism ever since they announced the 15-man Twenty20 squad earlier this month.

Razzaq, who hastily decided to retire from international cricket on Monday, and left-handed opener Imran Farhat, had held the selectors responsible for their omission.

They have also signed up for the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) along with Yousuf and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.