Adil Rashid India England 2018 Michael Vaughan
Adil Rashid Getty Images (file photo)

Adil Rashid‘s selection for England‘s squad for the upcoming Test series against India had drawn flak from former cricketers, especially fellow Yorkshireman Michael Vaughan. Vaughan criticised the selection of Rashid as ‘ridiculous’ on the grounds that Rashid had expressed reluctance to play red-ball cricket. Vaughan had pointed out that Rashid’s current contract with Yorkshire was a white-ball-only one. Rashid is yet to play a first-class match this year.

READ: Michael Vaughan denounces Rashid recall to England Test squad

 

Rashid has now expressed discontent at Vaughan’s comments, rubbishing them as ‘stupid’ and ‘do not matter’ in an interview with BBC Sport: “He can say a lot and he thinks people might listen. A lot of people have got no interest in what he says. His opinions do not matter to anybody. When I mentioned at the start of the year I will not be playing red-ball cricket, he tweeted something then. 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. If he wants to carry on talking just because he is bored with nothing better to say, then that is his choice. There will be people out there who are not happy. There will be haters, like the pundits who are saying it is a disgrace. That is not my fault. I don’t see what the big deal is. It was not an easy decision, but when your country wants you and asks if you are available, you cannot just say no.”

 

Yorkshire Chief Executive Mark Arthur had been critical of Rashid’s recall to the Test team, saying the county side were “surprised that England have called Adil up after not playing red-ball cricket this season.”

READ: Adil Rashid equally surprised as critics at Test recall against India

When BBC Sport asked on Yorkshire’s opinion about his selection, Rashid said: “They might be disappointed for various reasons, but it would have been nice if the chief executive or head coach could have said ‘well done, congratulations on being selected, good on you’, as opposed to being angry and upset for not playing red-ball cricket for them, even though I told them I would not be doing so.

“I did not do anything wrong in that sense. There is no reason for Yorkshire to react like this. It was not something I expected or wanted. It would have been nice to have got the support from your county or the people close to you, but if they do not want to give their support, that is their problem.

“I don’t need anybody’s support in that situation. I know what I want to do and achieve. If I give 100% and it goes well, it goes well. If it doesn’t then I will still be happy. If they treat me like they have done, don’t see any value in me and are disrespectful to me, I have to think about the future in terms of which county I play for.”

READ: Rashid selection decision made in consonance with skipper Root : Ed Smith

Rashid’s selection has already been backed by captain Joe Root and justified by national selector Ed Smith. Stuart Broad, too, came out in his support, in an interview with Sky Sports: “I think the selectors were very keen to have someone spinning the ball away from the right-handers. He’s been in form in the white-ball stuff and bowled some beautiful deliveries against Australia and India so will be coming in with lots of confidence.

“You want natural wicket-takers in your side and Adil is a proven international performer, which I think is important when you go into really big series. You want people who have withstood pressure throughout their career – Adil is someone who’s done that.”