Intikhab criticised barring players from domestic T20 tie

Karachi, May 31: Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam on Saturday came under severe criticism after he didn`t allow the national team`s players to take part in the final of the National Twenty20 Cup that was played in Lahore, Friday night.

Intikhab decided against allowing some of his team members including all-rounder Shoaib Malik, opener Salman Butt, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and opener Ahmed Shahzad.

The coach said that the players risked sustaining last-minute injuries if their played in the keenly-contested final in, which defending champions Sialkot Stallions defeated Lahore Lions to win the crown for the fourth time with the help of a whirlwind 57 by Imran Nazir, a former ICL signing.

However, former cricketers have taken a swipe at Intikhab, saying that the coach not only took the gloss out of the National Twenty20 Cup final, but also deprived his own players of some vital match practice.

"Intikhab should have allowed players like Shoaib Malik and Salman Butt to feature in the event," said a former Pakistan Test cricketer, on condition of anonymity.

"It would have added to the charm of the final besides giving those players a good match ahead of the World Twenty20 Championship," he added.

Intikhab wanted all his boys in perfect shape ahead of their departure for England on Saturday morning for the 2009 World Twenty20 championship to be played in London and Nottingham from June 5-21.

IANS