Shoaib Malik was dropped from the squad for the first

Pakistan team management has rubbished media reports that middle order batsman Shoaib Malik was dropped from the squad for the first Test against Australia underway at Lord’s because of spending too much time with newly wed wife Sania Mirza.

Team manager Yawar Saeed said Malik was dropped because of his form, and that there was no disciplinary action taken against him.

Saeed said the team was picked well in advance, and the tour selection committee did not consider Malik because he is struggling with the bat.

Media reports had claimed that Malik had skipped a practice session to be with Sania following which he was axed from the playing eleven.

It was also reported that skipper Shahid Afridi had even taken up the matter with Malik and asked him to be more careful in future.

“Malik is spending too much time with his wife. We want him to fully concentrate on game if he wants to play long for the country. The management has already taken up the matter with him and he hopefully will emerge much wiser after missing the historic first Test at Lord’s,” The News had quoted a team official, who refused to be named, as saying earlier.