Cricket: Nasir deserves to be in UAE squad: Ali

Wajahat Hussain handing over the trophy to Nasir Aziz, watched by a fan.

Alubond Tigers have won their 10th tournament of the season but team manager Zulfiqar Ali remains a man with mixed feelings.
While Ali is delighted at six international players from his team contributing to the winning run, he fumes at skipper Nasir Aziz not being named in the UAE squad flying for Scotland tour.
As the floodlights fade at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday night, the team manger decried non-inclusion of the off-spinner despite a good season.
"The captain has performed in all the tournaments. He has taken 15 scalps in the Asianet Premier League, 13 wickets in the Gulf Cup, more than 12 in the UBL trophy, 10 in the Punjab Premier tournament, eight wickets in the Arabian Cricket League and many in the Bukhatir League."
On being asked if age might be a factor with Aziz crossing 30, he said: "No we have players in the UAE squad who are older than him."
"He is leading from the front in every tournament. I fail to understand why he is not being considered," Ali added.
Nasir Aziz was part of the UAE squad for 2015 World Cup and also played ICC World Cricket League Championship matches in November 2015. He was sidelined for the Asia Cup and now didn't figure in the list of 30 probables for the Scotland tour.
Aziz says he is disappointed at not being considered but had kept quiet as he wanted his performance to speak for him.
"I don't have any fitness issues and always attend practice sessions. So, I don't know the reason why am I left out. It's not about performance as I have done well enough."
When asked if not signing the Emirates Cricket Board contract was the undoing factor, Aziz said: "I don't know. I am just being totally ignored." Aziz has refused to sign a contract. Alubond skipper says he can't afford to do away with his job. 
"There is a lot of disparity between what I am being offered by the board and what am I earning through my job," the sales executive said.