by "The food here is great and the people really like Pakistani
cricketers here."]
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=104303
News, Karachi, Pakistan
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Abdul Razzaq is enjoying life in rebel league
From Khalid Hussain
HYDERABAD, India: Sitting at a chic restaurant in the posh Taj Deccan
with his two children, Abdul Razzaq seemed like a man who is enjoying
life.
Just month after getting engaged in a bitter row with Pakistan's
cricket authorities that has effectively ended his international
career, the 28-year-old Razzaq has found a new platform to display the
sort of skills that once earned him the tag of the world's most
valuable all-rounder -- the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Razzaq is one of the reasons why Hyderabad Heroes have cruised into
the semifinals of the eight-team second edition of the ICL, a twenty20
contest that has engaged some exciting cricketers from all over the
globe.
Razzaq scored a 57-ball 78 and then took three key wickets to seal an
exciting victory against Mumbai Champs for Heroes here on Monday
night.
He is now looking forward to giving an even better performance in the
semifinal against Chennai Superstars here this (Wednesday) evening in
the first of the ICL semis.
"I'm enjoying my cricket," Razzaq told a group of Pakistani sports
journalists here on Tuesday. "It is the reason why my performance (in
the ICL) so far has been quite satisfying," he added.
Razzaq has played 46 Tests for 1946 runs and 100 wickets besides
representing Pakistan in 231 one-dayers in which he has scored 4465
runs and taken 246 wickets. But his Pakistan career came to a grinding
halt when the national selectors snubbed him for last September's
World Twenty20 championship in South Africa.
The player was so disappointed that he landed himself in trouble by
publicly criticising Pakistan's cricket authorities. He angrily
announced his retirement but later reversed the decision and said that
he was available for national duty.
But any hopes of making a Pakistan comeback were dashed when he joined
the breakaway ICL in spite of clear warning from the Pakistan Cricket
Board (PCB). Due to a rigid stance of the PCB over the ICL, Razzaq
seems unlikely to resume his international career.
But the player says he doesn't regret his decision.
"It was a decision that I took after carefully studying my
circumstances," he said. "I mean I didn't have much choice. I was not
wanted for the Pakistan team but the ICL people were very interested.
As a professional cricketer I had to make my choice and I shoes the
ICL."
Razzaq said that he is now focusing in helping Hyderabad Heroes to win
the ICL crown.
But he concedes it is a tough job considering the fact that there is a
big possibility that the Heroes, if they make the final, could be
facing Lahore Badshahs in the title clash. The Badshahs includes
several of Razzaq's Pakistan's teammates and is led by his former
captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
"It would be great if that happens," he said referring to a possible
final between Heroes and Badshahs. "They (Badshahs) are a very strong
team but we are not bad either."
The ICL has managed to attract the public's attention in India,
especially in Hyderabad. It is because of that reason, the event's
organisers have decided to hold the first semifinal and the last two
of the best-of-three finals here.
"Hyderabad is a great place and I've always liked it," says Razzaq.
"The food here is great and the people really like Pakistani
cricketers here."