Malik turns down offers from Essex & Hampshire [Hampshire deny making any offer]

[w8in_4_0402]

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has turned down approaches from county sides Hampshire and Essex hoping for his possible inclusion in the Pakistan side for the tour of Sri Lanka.
Pakistan selectors name the squad on May 12 for the tour that starts on June 1.
The all-rounder was omitted from the Asia Cup squad following the limited-overs series-loss against England. However, his chances of regaining a place in the side improved after he passed the fitness test under the supervision of coach Dav Whatmore.
The 30-year old has remained impressive in the domestic season where he also led Sialkot Stallions to two Twenty20 titles – the National Twenty20 and the Super Eight T20 Cup.
“I was offered county contracts through my representative but I refused to sign the deal because of a strict clause in those contracts,” Malik told The Express Tribune. “The teams sought assurance that I’ll be forced to play for them if I sign the deal, even if I was selected for Pakistan. That left me with no option but to turn them down as making a return to the national side is my priority. I’m hoping to regain my place in the squad ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.”
Pakistan will play three Tests, five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20s in Sri Lanka. Malik, who has played 32 Tests and 203 ODIs, said he was working hard to maintain his form and fitness.
“I am training hard and also playing club matches these days. If I get another chance, I will try my best to perform for Pakistan.”

http://tribune.com.pk/story/373462/hopeful-malik-turns-down-county-offers/

Is this good or bad for Pakistani Cricket? Would have loved to see him play in England to really test if hes capable to play out here.

May be he is just running away from the playing conditions out here :malik

[sunnykhan]

Tricky situation for him.

[ads101]

Whatmore's in pakistan. Not going to get a chance to impress whatmore in front of him if he's off in England. Plus selectors will probably take more heed of form they can see with their own eyes rather than supposed form in England. More risk going to england as malik doesn't know for sure he can perform there (unlike in pakistan domestic). But of course since the contracts also force him to play in England even if he's selected for Pakistan, makes logical sense that Malik can't possibly sign the contract.

In the long term to improve his game might be better for him to play in england. But a little strange didn't know counties would demand this. Thought the general feeling amongst them was that international preceeds domestic and if an international chance opens up you've got to let the player play.

[Bilal7]

If he doesn't get selected for Pakistan, I might actually feel bad for the man.

[Fawad2010]

He isn't stupid, expect him on the tour of SL...

[abdulhafeez306]

Malik doing a Chris Gayle. Except Windies needs Gayle while Pakistan would rather do without Malik.

[Usman]

No Malik!! Take the county deal! Make the poms suffer! Haven't you done enough Pakistan bashing? :))

[iafzal]

So when did counties requiring oversease players to not honor national commitments?

Must be a new thing. Can someone verify this?

[Asif321]

Stupid decision .. Playing in england always helps. go and suffer now

[insaaniyat]

I think it is just a ploy to get selected.

[mastermind_quad]

As PPer's says .....Country comes first......Should be a good news....Oh! that's not the case here....:P

[Love Pakistan]

Country comes first but country doesn't need Malik sahib!

[Looney]

County should come first for Shoaib Malik . Country ko maaf karo .

[Executioner]

:))

Perhaps to show disrespect to england and somehow manage to get a chance in IPL. Nowadays, everything that happens in cricket has even the slightest of things to do with the IPL

[Watsupdoc]

Lol Malik. I guess we'll see him in the next tour then :malik.

[carbon11]

Running away from difficult conditions and better bowlers

If the pitch is not flat and the bowler is not a trundler Malik struggles.

Younis khan, yousuf when they were at their peak both played county cricket, Azhar mahmoud has revived himself by playing in county cricket looks a new man.

[Black Zero]

he played county when he was 20/21

[Zaz]

Essex and Hampshire have had a lucky escape!

[Thees_Mar_Khan]

Cunning move I would say. His county performance would have exposed him since he struggles in conditions favorable to bowlers. Don't know why ppl forget his past. This guy started his cricket as a off spiner and played as a tailender batsman. He did improved his batting but not enough to compete in bowler friendly conditions. Bottom line, he is still a tailender batsman in England, Australia, NZ and SA conditions.

[Express Pace]

He is awful.

[carbon11]

he played county when he was 20/21

I remember it was early 2000's I think 2002/2003 from top of my head for gloucestershire

He was a very talented player then,

never lived up to it since then terrible test player I would put him there with Sami as someone who got too many chances in test cricket than he deserved.

[The Muppets XI]

So friends in high places and countless interviews may not have been enough to secure a spot in the team. So the emotional blackmail starts.

Suspect that he is not the only Pakistani player to have turned down approaches from Counties, just that not everyone else has to have a press conference about it.

English County has had a very lucky escape tho - didn't do anything of note last time he played on English soil.

[carbon11]

So friends in high places and countless interviews may not have been enough to secure a spot in the team. So the emotional blackmail starts.

Suspect that he is not the only Pakistani player to have turned down approaches from Counties, just that not everyone else has to have a press conference about it.

English County has had a very lucky escape tho - didn't do anything of note last time he played on English soil.

Played in 2003

2 county games averaged twenty with the bat and picked 5 wickets

Then played one Cheltenham Gloucester trophy list a game which was televised on tv I remember watching it made a very good 74 some big sixes and picked a wicket for 46.
Remember mark Nicholas saying shoaib malikis talented young player and admiring his fielding throwing in from the boundary saying the pitches are larger in Lahore and admiring his throwing to the keeper.

[munda_khi]

the only thing i don't understand, as most of us agree that the reason for his decision is that he was afraid of difficult situation and quality bowlers. does that mean the people who are offering contracts from essex and hampshire don't know his record and can't judge player's technique. it seems counties are also managed by stupid people, not much difference from much maligned our domestic cricket.

[The Muppets XI]

Played in 2003

2 county games averaged twenty with the bat and picked 5 wickets

Then played one Cheltenham Gloucester trophy list a game which was televised on tv I remember watching it made a very good 74 some big sixes and picked a wicket for 46.
Remember mark Nicholas saying shoaib malikis talented young player and admiring his fielding throwing in from the boundary saying the pitches are larger in Lahore and admiring his throwing to the keeper.

2003!!!! My gosh that was nearly 10 years ago. I said last time on English soil - i.e. 2010. Before you say that was International, so doesn't count, it was 7 years on from 2003, so should have been a better player, he flopped. Me personally, would rather he selected County and stayed there.

[Zaz]

Cunning move I would say. His county performance would have exposed him since he struggles in conditions favorable to bowlers. Don't know why ppl forget his past. This guy started his cricket as a off spiner and played as a tailender batsman. He did improved his batting but not enough to compete in bowler friendly conditions. Bottom line, he is still a tailender batsman in England, Australia, NZ and SA conditions.

Spot on

[dadvoc]

bad decision Malik paen
Firdous Ashqi Awan's own office is under threat, she won't bribe for your position anymore.
BTW he deserves to stay out, over the years he has gone worse from being just bad.

[bond of cricket]

its not a wise decision,,,,, because his position in national team is not clear,,,, whether he will be selected or not,,,,, so i feel this was the great opportunity for him to prove his talent,,, and make the selector to re think about him in the national team....

[AmmarAshraf]

‘Malik was never offered a contract’


Shoaib Malik was not offered a contract for any part of the current season, according to the Hampshire County Cricket Club.

Hampshire’s clarification comes just three days after the former captain said he had refused various county offers, including ones from Hampshire and Essex, in order to make himself available for national selection.

“I was offered county contracts through my representative but I refused to sign the deal because of a strict clause in those contracts,” Malik had told The Express Tribune on May 3.

“The teams sought assurance that I’ll be forced to play for them if I sign the deal, even if I was selected for Pakistan. That left me with no option but to turn them down as making a return to the national side is my priority. I’m hoping to regain my place in the squad ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.”

While Hampshire confirmed to The Express Tribune that no such offer was made to the former Pakistan captain, Essex, when contacted, was surprised at Malik’s description of the contract ‘offered’.

“No county is permitted to include such a clause,” confirmed an Essex County Cricket Club spokesperson. “An NOC would not be granted if it were included.”

Malik last represented Pakistan in the Twenty20 against England on February 27.

His poor show since his comeback last year forced the selectors to snub him for the Asia Cup squad, an event that Pakistan won after beating Bangladesh in the final.


http://tribune.com.pk/story/374519/malik-was-never-offered-a-contract/

[Saj]

Note Malik himself has not mentioned the county sides, but the article has somehow named the counties.

[Aymeking]

First of all there is no Official statement from any team.which looks nothing more than a Masala news.Shoaib Malik never Named any county team in his interview.named where given by a media "Source" and we all know our media is a complete joke

first that news was made by a group of media now they are denying their own news.which shows their low standard of journalism.

[Bullet Drive]

Note Malik himself has not mentioned the county sides, but the article has somehow named the counties.

So yet again this media source is not credible?

[Aymeking]

here is shoaib Malik's statements in Commas,in his interview to never mention any team which shows its a media propaganda..

“I was offered county contracts through my representative but I refused to sign the deal because of a strict clause in those contracts,” Malik told The Express Tribune.

“The teams sought assurance that I’ll be forced to play for them if I sign the deal, even if I was selected for Pakistan. That left me with no option but to turn them down, as making a return to the national side is my priority. I’m hoping to regain my place in the squad ahead of the Sri Lanka tour

“I am training hard and also playing club matches these days. If I get another chance, I will try my best to perform for Pakistan,” he said.

[iafzal]

So when did counties requiring oversease players to not honor national commitments?

Must be a new thing. Can someone verify this?

Malik may not have mentioned county's name but what we should make of this statement by Malik?

“I was offered county contracts through my representative but I refused to sign the deal because of a strict clause in those contracts,” Malik told The Express Tribune. “The teams sought assurance that I’ll be forced to play for them if I sign the deal, even if I was selected for Pakistan. That left me with no option but to turn them down as making a return to the national side is my priority. I’m hoping to regain my place in the squad ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.”

In response County this has to say
“No county is permitted to include such a clause,” confirmed an Essex County Cricket Club spokesperson. “An NOC would not be granted if it were included.”

So is the kind of blackmail to the selectors?

[Aymeking]

Malik may not have mentioned county's name but what we should make of this statement by Malik?

“I was offered county contracts through my representative but I refused to sign the deal because of a strict clause in those contracts,” Malik told The Express Tribune. “The teams sought assurance that I’ll be forced to play for them if I sign the deal, even if I was selected for Pakistan. That left me with no option but to turn them down as making a return to the national side is my priority. I’m hoping to regain my place in the squad ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.”

In response County this has to say
“No county is permitted to include such a clause,” confirmed an Essex County Cricket Club spokesperson. “An NOC would not be granted if it were included.”

So is the kind of blackmail to the selectors?


he has performed and he is 100% back in limited overs team.may be he was saying about other teams.2ndly now cricket has become too much commercial.teams can include some hidden terms b'coz they pay for playing not for national duties

[khalil1986]

he has performed and he is 100% back in limited overs team.may be he was saying about other teams.2ndly noe cricket has become too much commercial.teams can include some hidden terms b'coz they pay for playing not for national duties

Performed? Can you please post his stats for the last 12 months in international cricket, tried and tested rubbish.

[Aymeking]

Performed? Can you please post his stats for the last 12 months in international cricket, tried and tested rubbish.

he is top performer in limited overs Domestic season.so he will get his chance.BTW shame on you for using word like "Rubbish" for our players..PP should not allow you to post here

[khalil1986]

he is top performer in limited overs Domestic season.so he will get his chance.BTW shame on you for using word like "Rubbish" for our players..PP should not allow you to post here

He has had more than his fair share of chances. Again tell me what his international stats are? In regards to rubbish how would you explain his performances internationally in the last 12 months? I could think of a lot more harsher words to describe this bits and pieces player.

[Bullet Drive]

Karachi, May 6 (ANI): Rejecting Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik's claims of being offered a contract for the current season, Hampshire County officials said no such offer had been made.
Hampshire County's clarification came just three days after the former captain said he had refused various county offers, including ones from Hampshire and Essex, in order to make himself available for national selection, reports The Express Tribune.
Malik said he refused to sign the deal because of a strict clause in the contract. The teams sought assurance that he would be forced to play for them, even if he was selected for Pakistan, he said, adding that he had no option but to turn them down, as making a return to the national side was his priority.
While Hampshire confirmed to The Express Tribune that no such offer was made to Malik; Essex, when contacted, was surprised at Malik's description of the contract 'offered'.
"No county is permitted to include such a clause," said an Essex County Cricket Club spokesperson. "An NOC would not be granted if it were included," he added.

[Black Zero]

good call by Malik, considering he will be leading Pakistan in limited over games!

[Black Zero]

and :facepalm: @ speculative media

plus, correct questions to counties would have been if these were interested in Malik or not?
(offer comes vvvvvvvv late in the process)

[Black Zero]

another piece,
predicted almost everything.

25273

source: jang = unknown

[Canistani Hero]

This Malik business is getting old :zaka

[miandadrules]

he is top performer in limited overs Domestic season.so he will get his chance.BTW shame on you for using word like "Rubbish" for our players..PP should not allow you to post here

Shame on you

[w8in_4_0402]

Lol would have loved to see him there. His batting form has been beyond a nightmare.