GREAT Britain performance director Rob McCracken has slammed suggestions by Haroon Khan’s father Shah that the young boxer was frozen out of the national team setup for political reasons.

Haroon made his Pakistan debut with a first round win at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi on Monday and afterwards Shah claimed: “If one [Amir] does well, why should the other do well?’ – that’s the thing that comes to my mind.”

However McCracken denied Haroon’s non-selection was to do with anything other than performance, with the 19- year-old fighting at a weight which includes Khalid Yafai and European medallist Andrew Selby.

McCracken said: “Haroon boxes in a weight category where we have significant strength in depth and we felt that a number of boxers were ahead of him and had done more to merit inclusion in the Olympic squad.

“The record of these boxers in international competitions this year, which saw them win a silver medal and two bronzes at the European Championships in Moscow, indicates our judgement on this is correct.

“Haroon was on our radar and if he had performed well in competitions and shown significant progress he may have forced his way into contention for 2012. However he has denied himself that opportunity by choosing to fight for Pakistan.

“To suggest our policy on selection is based on anything other than merit is wholly incorrect and ignores the fantastic performance of the Olympic boxing squad in international competitions in 2010.”

Haroon is set to continue his Commonwealth Games medal quest today when he takes on Gilbert Bactora of Mauritius. If he wins he will face one of GB podium squad members Selby or Tommy Stubbs in round three.

Meanwhile England’s success in the ring continued on the second day of the competition at the Talkatora Stadium with comfortable victories for Liverpool pair Tom Stalker and Callum Smith.

Lightweight Stalker, who won the European silver medal in Moscow earlier this year, beat Guyana’s Clevon Rock 8-1 while Smith cruised to a 5-0 victory over Ritaiti Betero of Kiribati.

Welsh veteran Kevin Evans was made to regret his comeback after a four-year absence as he was beaten 11-2 by Samir El Mais of Canada. Another Welshman Darren Edwards was beaten 5-1 by impressive Scot Josh Taylor.