PHC directs PCB to submit reply in cricketer’s petition

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday directed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to submit a reply within 14 days in petition of cricket player who was not included in the selection process for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

A two-member bench of the PHC comprising Justice Shakil Ahmad and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard the petition filed by cricketer Najeebullah.Justice Shakil Ahmad observed that if a player was not selected on merit in a team, the national team could even lose to Scotland. He said the selection of players should be based on performance.

Earlier, the petitioner’s lawyer Fazal Wahid informed the court that his client’s performance had led the Peshawar Region to become champions, yet he was ignored in the selection process for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He argued that favoritism in player selection had impacted Pakistan’s performance against England, to which Justice Shakil Ahmad commented that if selections were not based on merit, Pakistan would lose even to Scotland.

The petitioner’s lawyer pleaded that his client Najeebullah had represented Pakistan at the Under-19 level. However, the PCB excluded him from the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.He also argued that in the 2023/24 season, the petitioner had scored three centuries in Under-19 matches and was ranked first in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa based on his performance.

Despite his best performance, he said the cricketer was not even called for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy selection.After hearing the arguments, the court issued a notice to the PCB and adjourned the hearing.