National players must play domestic cricket: Qadir

Lahore, Dec.16: Pakistan cricket’s chief selector Abdul Qadir said on Monday that penalties could be imposed on international players who skip domestic tournaments without genuine reason.

Most of Pakistan’s leading players have participated in this season’s four-day and one-day Pentangular tournaments and Qadir felt it gave them the opportunity to stay fit and in form.

“We will look to have penalties for such players,” the daily Times quoted Qadir as saying while attending a Pentangular Cup one-day match in Karachi.

Qadir said the domestic tournaments would help Pakistan improve their bench strength even though there was little international cricket on offer.

“Our primary objective is to help raise a strong second string. It’s important for domestic cricket that all our star players are involved in such events. I believe that such contests should take place regularly,” he added.

Pakistan have not played any Tests in 2008 and their last one-day series was against West Indies in Abu Dhabi in November. (ANI)