Image courtesy of: The Express Tribune

“There is no rift at all; everyone is in good spirits”

Pakistan all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik have dismissed rumours that they were sent home from South Africa due to discipline issues instead of the injuries they sustained.

Both players were sent home on November 19 after Razzaq suffered a hamstring injury during a training session, while Malik aggravated a finger injury he sustained during the second and final Twenty20 International against the Proteas on November 15 in Dubai.

“Unfortunately we are not winning, and these kind of things only start to emerge when a team is losing,” Malik said. “There is no rift at all; everyone is in good spirits. In my case, I got injured in Dubai and was not able to recover in time as expected.”

Malik also spoke about his injury, saying: “It needs three to four days to undo my stiches and thereafter I will chalk out my plan for a comeback. How can a player express himself in only two matches, and regardless of excessive bleeding I still managed to return to the crease only for the sake of the country. I know what I need to do, I need consistency.”

Razzaq reiterated Malik’s point about there being “no rift” within the team.

“There is no cause other than fitness,” Razzaq said. “I am required to rest for ten days and this is why I was sent back. There is no issue and I was enjoying the best atmosphere around me.”