Behaviour not criteria for selection: Akram

Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has criticised the country's new national selection panel, chaired by Inzamam-ul-Haq, for its decision to axe experienced batting duo Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal on disciplinary grounds. 

Akmal and Shehzad were last week omitted from Pakistan's 'Probables' squad ahead of their tour of England, with Inzamam citing ill-discipline in the past and recent poor form as contributing factors to their exclusions. 

Quick Single: ODI GOAT: Richards v Tendulkar

"Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal have not been included in the training camp taking into view their past disciplinary record," Inzamam told a media conference in Lahore. 

"Neither is their discipline good nor their recent performances consistent and impressive."

Akram disagreed strongly with the decision, even admitting that his own off-field indiscretions as a player were overlooked for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. 

"If we drop players on purely disciplinary grounds then let me tell you, many of our era would not have even played for Pakistan including myself," he said. 

"I think if a player has a problem it is the job of the team management and captain to deal with it and get him to perform."

Quick Single: De Kock, Delhi and the IPL fishbowl

Akmal and Shehzad have both courted trouble within the national set-up in recent times, with former Pakistan coach Waqar Younis recommending that the former be dropped from the national squad and the latter be sternly disciplined. 

Last November, Akmal was axed from Pakistan's T20 squad for a three-match series with England, after being allegedly involved in an incident involving "mistreatment" of women while playing a first-class game in Hyderabad.

Akram also criticised former Pakistan players - thought to be Aaqib Javed and Mohsin Khan - for their failure to apply for the role of national coach, since taken up by former Proteas and Australia mentor Mickey Arthur, owing to differences with the hiring panel, which included Akram himself. 

"What sort of attitude and mindset is this?" he said. "One former player said 'I will apply and talk directly to the chairman'. When you have such a mindset how can one expect them to work well with the Pakistan team?"

Akram added that no high-profile coach from within Pakistan had applied for the role through the proper channels, and said Arthur would need to be given time in his efforts to restore the national side to former glories. 

"One should not expect him to bring about improvement immediately as our team is currently languishing at ninth position in the ODI rankings," he said. 

"Even he will require time to turn things around."