Test build-up: Adil Rashid under fire from Geoffrey Boycott

YORKSHIRE great Geoffrey Boycott has branded Adil Rashid a 'spoilt brat' who has no understanding of loyalty and is setting a poor example to young cricketers.
Geoffrey Boycott: Hitting out.Geoffrey Boycott: Hitting out.
Geoffrey Boycott: Hitting out.

The leg-spinner has come in for fierce criticism following his inclusion in the England Test squad for the India series, despite his self-imposed exile from first-class cricket with Yorkshire this year.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, former England and Yorkshire batsman Boycott said: “He should never have been handed a Test recall. In two years England have gone around in a circle. By picking Rashid, they are selecting the unselectable: a player who will not play four-day Championship cricket for Yorkshire because his heart is not in it, but he will play for England in Test matches. Absurd? Yes.

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“At the start of the season Yorkshire had the chance to say to Rashid: ‘You play all forms of cricket or you can leave.’

“This is not setting the right example to our youngsters and we expect more loyalty, especially from a home-grown player. Sadly, Yorkshire did not have the balls to do that.

“I accept other counties would have snapped him up, but Yorkshire have put so much time, effort and money into helping this kid develop into an international cricketer. They have never stood in his way, wherever he played around the world, and he repays them by showing he could not give a t*** about the club.

“Loyalty works two ways, but it appears Adil wants to be free to play anywhere in the world there is a one-day tournament that pays him big bucks.”

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Former Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan labelled Rashid’s selection “ridiculous” and a “stab in the back for county cricket”, with Rashid responding angrily by saying his former team-mate’s remarks were “stupid”. He also accused Yorkshire of being “disrespectful” in their reaction to the news and cast doubt on his future at Headingley. -

“He still does not get it that he will not play for Yorkshire but will play for England and thinks Yorkshire should be thrilled for him,” Boycott added. “He is already thinking of moving on, so do not wait for him to make the decision - just tell him he can go. He has no allegiance to Yorkshire.”

Boycott said Rashid reacted to Vaughan’s criticism “like a spoilt child”.

“Trashing a great England captain and superb batsman does not go down well with the cricketing public,” he said. “Let me tell Adil that Vaughan will be remembered as one of the greatest England captains and an elegant, superb batsman. In 10 years, nobody will remember Adil’s Test match performances.”