KARACHI: The freak ankle injury to captain Shoaib Malik on the recent India tour while playing football has led to the Pakistan Cricket Board advising the team management to discourage such activities during matches for fear of injuries.
Malik had to miss the last two Tests in India because of the injury and sources said the PCB had advised the team management not to allow the players to indulge in such fun activities that might result in injuries to players.
Malik was injured while the players were engaged in a friendly game of soccer after losing the Delhi Test to India.
A Board official said PCB had no official policy on this and the team management would decide what was best for the players.
"Obviously, we don't want any player to take part in activities that might result in injuries not sustained playing cricket. But eventually the team management is in the best position to decide what is best for players," he said.
Pakistan has developed this culture of playing friendly soccer matches among themselves in practice sessions from the time Javed Miandad coach in 2003 and -04.
Gul returned home during the Indian tour with a back problem while Shoaib was visibly struggling with his fitness in the tests after making a comeback to the team having served a 13-matches ban for misconduct and having played only five one-dayers and one test in the 19-months leading upto the Indian tour due to fitness and disciplinary issues.
Former captain Rashid Latif said he would prefer if the Board had a uniform policy for every player and everyone had to prove his fitness before being selected.
The Board and selectors have faced criticism over including Malik in the squad while omitting the two bowlers on fitness grounds but Malik himself insisted at a press conference yesterday he had completed the rehabilitation course and was completely recovered from his ankle injury.
There has been talk in the cricket circles that the Board might have finally decided to dispense with the temperamental Akhtar with a crop of new impressive pacers coming through two of whom are due to play against Zimbabwe.
But Ehsan Malik rubbished these stories, saying the Board had taken no long term decision on Akhtar.
The feeling is that once Mohammad Asif is also available for the Australian series in March-April the selectors will have plenty of pace bowling options to choose from.
Asif Pakistan's leading bowler in Akhtar's absence is presently recovering from an elbow operation he had in Australia after missing the Indian tour.
