England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has hit back at Michael Vaughan who had criticised the selectors' decision to recall him in the Test squad, saying the former captain's comments were "stupid" and "do not matter".
Rashid's inclusion to the Test squad for the home series against India has brought sharp reactions from ex-players with Vaughan terming it as "ridiculous".
Vaughan had questioned the decision of the England selectors, saying that someone who does not want to play the longer format has been rewarded with a Test spot on the basis of his recent limited overs form.
The 30-year-old Rashid was chosen for the Test series against India starting on August 1 despite signing a white-ball only contract with Yorkshire for the 2018 season.
Rashid said Vaughan's comments about his recall to the Test squad was a kind of nonsense being spoken by ex-players.
"He (Vaughan) 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," Rashid was quoted as saying by 'BBC Sport'.
"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."
Rashid has taken 38 wickets at an average of 42.78 in 10 Tests for England, the most recent of which came in India in December 2016.
In February, he signed a contract with Yorkshire to play only limited-overs cricket in 2018. He has not played a first-class match since September 2017.
"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," said Rashid.
Rashid, however, got the backing of England seamer Stuart Broad who said the leg-spinner was a "proven international performer" and "natural wicket-taker" and that those traits could prove key in a "big series".
"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," Broad was quoted as saying by 'Sky Sports'.
"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."
Unnecessary criticism
legendary England all-rounder Ian Botham says the criticism around the inclusion of spinner Adil Rashid in the home team's squad for the first Test against India is "unnecessary".
"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.”
"I like the kid and I think he's come to terms with the way of bowling and sorted out his game plan."
"I think he'll enjoy the red ball - he will enjoy the purchase he can get on it and will have a point to prove."