Rashid hits back at Vaughan over ‘stupid’ selection comment
LONDON:ENGLAND leg-spinner Adil Rashid has hit back at Michael Vaughan after the former captain described his selection for the first Test against India as “ridiculous”.
Rashid was included in a 13-man squad even though he has opted out of playing first-class County Championship cricket for Yorkshire this season.
His selection for next week’s first Test on the back of his oneday form has not gone down well with Vaughan, an ex-teammate of Rashid’s for Yorkshire, who described his selection as “stab in the back for county cricket”.
“When I mentioned at the start of the year I will not be playing red-ball cricket, he tweeted something then,” Rashid said in an interview with the BBC. “He was being controversial and saying his stupid things then too.
“I don’t think he has an agenda against me. I played under and with him but sometimes ex-players come out and start talking nonsense about current players.”
BOTHAM BACKS RASHID
Former all-rounder Ian Botham however didn’t want to read much into the selection. “I don’t understand what Michael was on about, it was pretty unnecessary,” Botham said on Sky Sports. “Adil is fed up with it and has reacted. There has been a lot of stuff out there written and I just don’t get it. I wonder if some people just do it for effect.
“He does put it out there and is prepared to throw (the ball) up. The Indians will go after him but I hope he does very well. It should be an interesting contest.”