Shoaib Malik storms out of press conference

Pak captain Shoaib Malik abruptly left a press conference after being questioned about Shoaib Akhtar's sudden appearance at the practice session.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik on Friday abruptly left a press conference after being bombarded with questions about fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s sudden appearance in the national team’s practice session at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore.

After having answered questions about the series against Zimbabwe, Malik was asked whether Shoaib was invited for the practice session or he had come on his own.

Shoaib has remained out of public view since returning home from India and even the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials said the pacer had not tried to contact them even after being dropped from the central contracts list and the home series against Zimbabwe.

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A senior board official said the PCB had no idea when Shoaib returned from India. So his sudden appearance at the nets on Friday morning surprised everyone.

But Malik was in no mood to talk about Shoaib and tried to parry the questions by stating that it was good he was back into training as he was an asset for Pakistan cricket.

He also hoped Shoaib, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul – all facing fitness problems — would be available for the coming series against Australia.

But when reporters insisted on knowing whether Shoaib showed up for the training himself or was called by the board, selectors or the coach and captain, Malik lost his cool.

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Apparently the question about who had called Shoaib made Malik uncomfortable as the board was not involved in it, a source said.

He said coach Geoff Lawson had specifically instructed that Shoaib be asked to attend the nets session on Saturday.

“I don’t know if Malik was involved in this decision or not,” he added.