Former Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman has made some startling revelations, claiming that there are two factions in the Pakistan national team. Rehman said there are those who are favourites of the captain and those who are in the good books of the head coach. Rehman said there are players who are on good terms with the captain often leave the coach angry and vice versa.

Rehman, who played 22 Tests, 31 ODIs and 8 T20Is in his international career, said players are picked and dropped on the basis of their bonding with the captain or the head coach. He claimed that both captain and coach have their favourites who they try to favour over others.

“Being a yes-man for the captain has benefits and drawbacks. When you are on good terms with the captain then the coach gets angry. A lot depends on the likes or dislikes of those involved. If the coach likes you then the captain won’t. Then one tries to take the player out because either he doesn’t like him or the player in question doesn’t spend time with him,” Rehman was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

Rehman is not the first former Pakistan cricketer to have made such startling claims and many in the past have spoken about favouritism and bias in the selection policy of the Pakistan side. Rehman said a player’s performance is ignored when favouritism comes into play as they are often dumped out of the team without being given an explanation.

“They start hating the player. They don’t see how important a player is for Pakistan. They don’t look at performances or anything else then. All his previous performances or his career is forgotten and attempts are made to get the player out of the side,” said the former Pakistan spinner.

“Whoever it is, until the player is out of the side, the person who doesn’t like him won’t be at peace. This is not good for Pakistan or the players. This is Pakistan’s team and not a team of the coach or captain,” he added.