'Dhoni retired two years ago. Is anyone asking him to not play?' - Kamran Akmal lashes out at PCB for mishandling Shoaib Malik

Former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has lambasted at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for ingnoring and sidelining veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik for the T20 World Cup 2022. 

Akmal wondered why the PCB is making a big deal around Malik's age when veteran players of other countries are still being considered to play by their respective cricket boards despite them having bid adieu to international cricket. A frustrated Kamran gave MS Dhoni's example as he is still continuing to play the IPL even after retiring from international cricket more than two years ago. 

Is Shoaib Malik unfit or what?: Kamran Akmal

"In England, Alastair Cook is made to play (domestic cricket). Are they mad? Dhoni IPL khel raha hai. Usse cricket chhode hue 2 saal ho gaye. Usse koi keh raha hai ki na khele? (Dhoni retired from international cricket two years ago. Is anyone asking him to not play?) Over here (in Pakistan) I don't know what are the issues relating to the age factor. Is Shoaib Malik unfit or out of form? If he is suitable to play for Pakistan then let him play", said Akmal while speaking to Cricket Pakistan.

Malik, who was a part of Pakistan's T20 World Cup last year in the UAE, has not been in the scheme of things since Bangladesh T20Is in November 2021. With Mohammad Hafeez retired and Pakistan's fragile middle-order struggling, Malik and former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed could have been added to bolster their middle-order for the T20 World Cup.

However, PCB never considered the senior players as Malik was not even selected for the ongoing home T20Is against England where Pakistan's middle-order has been badly exposed.

After the Men in Green's Asia Cup 2022 defeat to Sri Lanka earlier this month, Malik took to his official Twitter handle and publically talked about the internal politics and favourtism practiced by PCB.

- When will we come out from friendship, liking & disliking culture.
Allah always helps the honest...

— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) September 11, 2022