Razzaq apologises for Hafeez outburst

LAHORE - All-rounder Abdul Razzaq has tendered am apology to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for criticizing skipper Hafeez as he submitted his reply on Monday, it has been learnt.In his reply, Razzaq stated that he had made his statements in anger. "I will be careful in future," Razzaq stated in his written reply submitted after consultations with a legal expert.In his reply, Razzaq said that his remarks were not intended to hurt anyone and were spur-of-the-moment remarks. He added that he was upset over not being included in the team and apologised for his outburst, saying that he had no conflict with anyone in the team.PCB has served him with show-cause notice, saying Razzaq had breached the player's code of conduct, which forbids players from speaking to the media without prior permission from the board."Abdur Razzaq has violated the code of conduct and we have served him a show-cause notice. He has seven days to answer the notice," said PCB spokesman.Abdur Razzaq had lashed out at Hafeez for not picking him for the World T20 semi-final against Sri Lanka. He was replaced by left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir in the match that Pakistan lost by 16 runs, allowing Sri Lanka to reach the final. "It was Hafeez's decision not to pick me for the semi-final, not anyone else," Razzaq said.According to sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board is not satisfied with the reply and is likely to impose a heavy fine on Razzaq.PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf later clarified that Razzaq's exclusion from the semi-final line-up had been unanimous.Razzaq played one match during Pakistan's World T20 2012 campaign, when he was picked in the Super Eight tie against Australia in which he scored 22 runs. The all-rounder was also part of the team in the two warm-up matches prior to the tournament.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt