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PCB removes Shahid Afridi as ODI team captain - 10 May 2011
Afridi in trouble after remarks - 24 May 2011
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Retirement: Irked Afridi walks out
Former ODI captain vows to not play under the current board.
Afridi announces his retirement from international cricket. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
The rollercoaster career of Shahid Afridi took a steep dive last night when the all-rounder announced his retirement from international cricket in protest against the ‘treatment meted out’ to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Despite leading the side to close series-losses against England and South Africa before beating New Zealand, leading Pakistan to the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup and winning the One-Day International (ODI) series 3-2 in the West Indies, Afridi was sacked as the ODI captain reportedly as punishment for speaking out against the team management.
Afridi confirmed the decision to a private TV channel late last night from England where he arrived from the US in order to fulfil his county commitments.
“I won’t play for Pakistan under the current PCB setup,” said Afridi who pulled out of the Ireland series due to his father’s illness. “Self-respect is something I hold in high esteem and this board has done nothing but downgraded me. I’ve had enough of this and took this decision after careful consideration.”
Afridi, who retired from Test cricket one match into his comeback last summer, did keep the door open for a comeback at a point in the future, citing the immense support he had from the nation and his love for the sport. The all-rounder, while hinting at the omnipresent division in the dressing-room, blamed the “Lahore and Punjab group” for his removal from captaincy, adding that “it made things easier for them”. He was also unhappy with the PCB’s method of appointing captain on a series-by series basis, adding to the instability and insecurity that prevented a strong side from being built.
“I was never given the required confidence by the PCB. I didn’t know whether I’d be captain for the next series or not. I wasn’t asked for input on selection matters. I was punished for speaking the truth [after his return from the West Indies]. I’m the captain, if the media asked the questions and I don’t answer them, who else will?”
While the PCB refused to comment on the retirement, officials of the board and Ijaz Butt’s snub to the captain last week have confirmed that the PCB is in no mood to approach the all-rounder and woe him back into the squad.
“Actions speak louder than words,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune.
“His attitude has been reckless not only on the field but off it as well and I think we need to put our foot down and say that no player is bigger than the board.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2011.
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Sad to hear that Shahid Afridi resigned from international cricket.
How many more players PBC is going to sallow?
PBC has started acting as Anaconda. Recommend
Funny, that his career can be summed up in a sentence about one single innings in 1996…Recommend
AFRIDI IS THE NAME OF NATION!. We want him back :(Recommend
The problem isnt Afridi its Ejaz Butt. Every time the man opens his mouth Pakistan cricket and the countries reputation both take a batteringRecommend
good job afridi……and smart work by calling your retirement a “conditional” one…..;)….Recommend
SAD!!!!!!! :( Recommend
He will be back soon and retire again only to come back again and then retire again and the story continues ..Recommend
Noooooooo… What the hell man…Ijaaazzzz Buttt!!! man resign now….Or kitna hamari cricket kharab karogey….Recommend
Come back dear , Mr, Butt had to leave sooner or later.Recommend
Goodbye Buddy!Recommend
I am one of your criticizer. But not expecting you to leave cricket. Shocked with your decision. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee withdraw your Decision. This is not the right time. Khuda Hafiz.Recommend
So much happening in the State of Pakistan!! failing in all aspects of life…
Chairman PCB should resign. Recommend
both Afridi and Ijaz butt should quit, no place for immature and incompetent people !Recommend
oh god no, not again please, enough of the retirement drama. How many times Pakistani cricketers retire and come back. They win one or two series as captain, start feeling larger than game, conflicts emerge with fellow players or with PCB, get dethroned, announce retirement and then come back again. Yohana, Younis, Hyder, Razak, Afridi….phewwww
By the way this is not the first time Afridi retires, here is what cricinfo says
Afridi is not new to retirements. He first announced a temporary sabbatical from Test cricket in April 2006, in a bid to concentrate only on ODIs in the lead-up to the 2007 World Cup. But he then said that he would reconsider his ‘retirement’ after the World Cup. He later returned to the side, and even led Pakistan’s Test side at the start of their tumultuous tour of England last summer. He, however, once again retired from the longest format, as soon as Pakistan lost the first Test against Australia at Lord’s. Afridi was one of the culprits in Pakistan’s spineless second-innings effort, holing out against part-timer Marcus North who ran through the line-up.Recommend
You will be missed desperately Lala :(….was one of my Fav. player….Down with PCB and Ijaz Butt!!!Recommend
i want afridi to come plz it would be difficult for our team to play without him . i am
requesting cricket board to forced afridi to come. thank you . Ariba from lahore Recommend
verey verey sad desion from shaid afridiRecommend
OMG OMG…….. WHAT HAS HE DONE TO PAK PEOPLE:(..I M SERIOUSLY CRYING NOW BECOZ OF HIS RETIREMENT..i m sure no one will leave him like this……..INSHAH ALLAH he will be back soon……. HE WAS OUR HERO,HE IS AND WILL BE TILL THE END OF THIS WORLD….thats itRecommend
The story of PCB is like the story of entire Pakistan.Recommend
yahoo!!!Recommend
TO Dear,
Recommendi m ariba frm lahore and i request cricket board to took afridi back because it would be difficult for our team to play without afridi.
Thankyou,
Ariba Shahid from Lahore
great post similar to http://rsliberty.com/2011/05/30/shahid-afridi-bye-international-cricket/Recommend
Afridi Join PTI, Recommend
AFRIIIIDIIIIIIIIIII COME BACK MAN!!!!Recommend
To all those who are critisizing Afridi….you guys surely dont know how to love and respect our Heroes….there is no place and value for honest and competent ppl these days….Recommend
we are extremely shcoked and disturbed by afridi’s retirement news… soo plz we want him to come back by any hook or crook.. as “cricket is no cricket without afridi” =((Recommend
Didn’t I see it coming!?! Thus played Afridi “The High Hitter”… Recommend
Acha faisla ha in corrupt plyers nd officals kay sath kehlny se retair hona bohot acha faisla ha May God bless u in every field of life we will mis that boom boom sixes never forget u u r the best i ve no words just saying that pak team ka khuda hafiz as musharaf told when he Is leaving thE presidency that pak ka khuda hafiz jo ho raha haRecommend
last night i prayed that may Allah guide him take the right decision..well it wz very much expected… lets hope k it leads to a positive change for Pakistan cricket.Recommend
By reading comments here from poor Pakistani chaps I am laughing so much. Isnt that similar to Gulliver’s Liliput. People wake up why are you being so emotional, this is all drama. Even the headline of cricinfo about the news reads: Afridi ‘quits’ international cricket. I mean seriously every cricket follower outside Pakistan knows that retirement to Pak Cricketers means nothing but rest for few days or months.
So, what all Afridi is saying that he wants to rest a bit because of his abnormally large heart he got so much tired. And Pakistani cricket fans started crying, blaming PCB, blaming US, CIA and RAW, asking Chinese army to help. Recommend
Wow, love our ET-based sociologists who see cricket as the microcosms of a whole nation, ‘lol’ @ Samiullahs & Yousafs.
About Afridi: he knows that he has a BIG fan following, and now, people will put pressure on Ijaz ‘the Pakistan’s cricket killer’ Butt for resignation. Recommend
@Ariba shahid:
I AGREED WITH U Recommend
I think this is a CIA & RAW’s secret agenda to destroy Pak cricket. They dont want a Muslim country to have good cricket team and Afridi. Noor Ali, Pakistan.Recommend
Good Riddance… Worst, most uncultured, indisciplined, Senseless talking loud-mouth cricketer in the history of Pakistani cricket. Recommend
Drama, Drama & more drama. Only in Pakistan, a cricketer retires 3 times. Recommend
No temperament.. Good riddance. Let the new blood come. Recommend
@Noor Ali:
That’s not even funny. Epic f-a-i-l.Recommend
@Arvind:
Why can’t you spare us your oh-so-interesting comment Aman Ki Ashaesque Indian bro ? I mean, it’s funny for some time, but now that just some desperate attention seeking rhetorical tricks dude.Recommend
Our corrupt leaders have sold the nation, this is clearly a CIA, RAW move, no doubt. It should be investigated why this happens to only pakistan not to India. This is to demorlise and break pakistani people. Afridi is the greatest cricketer ever born. Western countries and India do not want that a muslim player is better than Bradman or Sachin.Why we made atom bombs if we dont use them, blow up PCB and Butttttttttt if you want betterment of Pak cricket. May Allah shows mercy on us.Recommend
This is best step he has taken for himself and for pakistan!.. ejaz butt has been a disaster in pakistan cricket and needs to go.. infact ppp’s own ministers want him out as he has been a total incompotent fool.. such level of shame he has brought us into.. former icc chairman in his speech labeled him moron!.. hes there simply because he has relations with the defence minister.. But afridi who is a hero and is a legend is far more popular and the government has no choice but to remove Butt! now.. this is a great move..afridi critics should keep there mouth shut!.. he got us 2009 trophy and was the best player for Pakistan in the 2011 worldcup!..Recommend
we want afridi back
Afridi nahi tu cricket nahi
GO ejazz GO
we love you afridi U should come back we are with you the whole nation is with you
we will throw the black wolfves out of PCB. Recommend
Dont come back and dont bring “awam” into it. We dont want you. Shame on you I am 100% sure this coward will come back. If you have any ghairat left stick to your decision and dont come backRecommend
@A: Funny, that his career can be summed up in a sentence about one single innings in 1996…
We have to be proud of him he did not left any scandal ..like Sarfaraz Nawaz, Wasim Akram,that idiot Waqar Younas and many more at least we have this one record in One day international cricket .What else we have got hannnnnn???????????????
Muhammad Amir,Asif and bunch of idiots who took money from that Indian guy and involved in spot fixing .As a nation we are idiots we only know how to criticize and that’s all.Recommend
Good.
be a Man your Words.
Don’t you ever come back!!
We Dont need Players who cannot Lead from the front.
Captains are Like MS Dhoni , Not Like Afridi.
Ball-eater.Recommend
We want Afridi Back!!!!!Recommend
shahid khan afridi was only1 player in pak side woh did’t played for money..he allway’s played for country.. now india need to get pakistani best retire player in ipl…like afridi..imran nazir..rana naved shoaib akhtar and malik.Recommend
Afridi is an inspiring leader and a true Pakistani. Down with all those who speak against him…..sack that good for nothing Ijaz Butt!!!!Recommend
@A:
He has got numerous match winning innings under his belt and is always considered to be one of the deadliest all rounders in the game. You better check history and don’t act like an IndianRecommend
Now it has started looking like an indian newspaper!Recommend
Damned prima-donnas. Good riddance.Recommend
@Arvind: yar don’t speak cricinfo…you don’t know our excellency Mr butt ..is baar drama nhee hay ;)Recommend
Any first class player if given equal chances will perform ten times better than Afridi.
Good riddance, thank you PCB.Recommend
@A:
what will you say about the Highest Wicket Taker of world Cup 2011????Recommend
Can anyone tell me what type of legal agreements/contracts cricket players have? Can cricketers go play for any team that pays them the highest amount/offers the best compensation package?
I am not familiar with what type of legal agreement/contract Shahid Afridi has as a member of the Pakistani cricket team, but, we all know he can make more money earning in pounds/euro if he is allowed to play for other teams.
Before everybody gets angry at me suggesting Shahid Afridi play for another team, let me tell you that I know he is a proud Pakistani / proud Pashtun, he rose to the challenges given to him and made a broken team united. Unfortunately, his efforts to make his Pakistan shine on a world-wide platform has never been appreciated, so if he can play for another team, he can continue his passion of playing good cricket, and he can continue his charity works since he has donated money, energy, and has given his time generously to events that raise funds for those who need it the most in Pakistan. This way, Shahid Afridi is still serving his country as a cricketer & through humanitarian efforts. Most importantly, he does not have to deal with all the pettiness and ugly politics that the PCB is currently giving him. Recommend
another victim of this Ijaz Butt squad. lets watch the team dragging to drain.Recommend
hey this is not fair i love u bro nd i can’t see the match becz u r not here so thts why plzzz boom boom come back i reqst u buddy..:(((((Recommend
oh god, I cant even imagine the Pakistan cricket team without Afridi!Recommend
Gosh, you guys are unbelievable. Where does RAW & CIA come into picture even in Afridi’s retirement! We people have gone crazy & i think need a psycho therapy en masse! Tribune mod, reading our comments will end up in mental hospital! Poor chap!
Now i really have respect for you / your job! & hope you are not already in hospital reading the conspiracy BS!Recommend
Lala please come back! Don’t be dejected. We, Pakistan, are proud of you and love you. Recommend
Disheartening to see Muslims whining over things as useless as cricket. Its just a game and let it be that way. There are things much more serious that require your attention right at the time you are busy with useless obsession for being a responsible Ummah.
May Allah guide us all.
AameenRecommend
Disheartening to see Muslims whining over things as useless as cricket. Its just a game and let it be that way. There are things much more serious that require your attention right at the time you are busy with useless obsession for being a responsible Ummah.
May Allah guide us all.
Aameen
Shahnawaz Abdullah
New Delhi, IndiaRecommend
The problem with the Pakistani players is after winning few matches as a captain they start posing like imran khan. But they are not imran khan. If afridi’s self esteem is so high why he did not announce his unavailability for IPL. He is still ready to play in IPL after so much happening. Recommend
What did he got from this Board, All of you didn’t read his statement, He said that he doesn’t know whether he will be the captain in next series or not, so what will you aspect from that team whose Captain announce at the time of series. Anyway it is better for Afridi to quite his career, but it is not good for his fans, Best of Luck Shahid for your next future……..Recommend
Good thing to do in current circumstances!!!! Butt should be kicked out of PCBRecommend
“His attitude has been reckless not only on the field but off it as well and I think we need to put our foot down and say that no player is bigger than the board.”
Dont these words sound like some people have started thinking of themselves as God.Recommend
Its so much to hear about our Afridi’s retirement.We want Afridi at any cost in squad as CAPTAIN……………….Recommend
Good decision…….now please don’t back out unless the setup of PCB changes as u have committed Mr. Afridi………Recommend
Looks like President Zaradari has appointed heads to destroy their respective institutions.
PIA = Done
Steel Mills = Done
Pakistan Railways = Done
PEPCO = Done
HEC = Done
PCB = Almost Done !!!!!!
Problem is Ijaz Butt. Get rid of him everything in our crcket will be back to normal.Recommend
Its Ejaz Butt personal fiefdom and he can do any thing la ZardariRecommend
I wonder why there are 34 recommendations for Arvind’s comments. I am not criticizing his comment but request my fellow Indians to grow up. I know this is a public blog and each one of you are entitled to have your own opinion but the attitude of just blindly recommending a comment since it’s sarcastic to anything Pakistani does not earn respect for us and and for our country.Recommend
What a sore looser.Recommend
We want him back…. He is the heart of Pakistani team… :(Recommend
“His attitude has been reckless not only on the field”
What a shocking news that..as if we dont know his capabillities on the pitch..Recommend
Indians, please take AFRIDI and AZAD KASHMIR, give us cricket..Recommend
One comment people haven’t made is about Shahid’s “Lahore & Punjab” group thing. This is most crucial and needs to be analyzed on war footing if cricket is to be saved. Seems like PCB under Ijaz Butt’s screwed up leadership is completely under control of Punjab specific group. This will only further the alienation of non-Punjabi cricketers and will not help cricket at all.Recommend
We want BOOM BOOM Afridi. PCB Chairman should reisgn…..Recommend
He has more following than Imran Khan and Waseem Akram, though he’s not equal to there standards, but still he is a Crowd Puller!! Nation Loves him irrespective of any Cast, he’s popular among all.Recommend
I wonder as what the purpose of PCB is. Is it to humiliate the cricket in Pakistan or to ensure that every cricketer in Pakistan is muzzled. Whatever there purpose is they surely make us look like very silly people. In this case both Afridi and PCB are at fault behaving like immature kids playing cricket arguing whether they are out or not or who should be batting first. Its not the first time we saw Ijaz Butt handling a situation badly, their is a catalog of errors he has made and put Pakistan cricket in a difficult situation. Afridi was wrong in going public with his comments but at the same time PCB should have risen above Afridi and should have invited him to discuss matters after all he is the Captain responsible for the outcome of the team on and off the ground. Time for PCB comedy of errors to stop and let the people in the PCB above the age of 50 go home. Let them have a rest maybe we will start to have a positive discussion as how to take this great game of cricket forward. The media itself should campaign against such an idiotic board and ask for change. Zardari patron in chief of PCB will not make the change as he is too bogged down with his problems. Recommend
OH he’ll be back…you bunch of drama queens…Recommend
@Arvind:
stay away from our country matter….Recommend
I became very sad to listen the bad news regarding retirement of our beloved player SHAHID KHAN AFRIDI. Boom Boom we would not let you to quit. You will lead our team and bring home world cup. You are Hero like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan.Recommend
You dont have ghairat kaminayRecommend
@Afridi:
no scandals? manipulating the pitch against England in Test? biting the ball?
not to forget his numerous confrontations with his captains about his batting position! his fights with the coaches and management!
dont call ur nation anything. you are the idiot who cant see the world objectively…Recommend
afridi is just throwing a tantrum, he will return back soon. It is normal practice in Pakistani cricket. Recommend
@Dan:
He was never considered a real batsman. his ODI average is 23. besides a couple of series against india he never fired with the bat and always failed to meet expectations.
only the past few years (which didnt have much cricket for pak anyways) he did improve his bowling in ODI and T20.
He was never a true leader and had bad influence on the youngsters. everytime he did something for the team…his ego rose and he acted over again!
you know how i can not even take his fans seriously? because you guys are the one’s who claimed your hero afridi is a better batsman than virender sehwag. that was when afridi hit the 45-ball century vs india.
now you are making him a bowling-allrounder. tomorrow he will be your dream-captain. after that you would like him to be PM of pakistan.
Just leave me alone with your crap! Thanks!Recommend
@Mr.Khan
You sound so stupid and clumsy you better go and comment on TOI.Recommend
very sad news now our Pakistani team is in the hands of children OMGRecommend
@Mr.Khan:
You have only regarded him as Ball eater? but you totally neglects his efforts in the World Cup…
that really shows your way of evaluating the things…
Rai ka pahar banana…. yaqeenan isi ko kehte hain…. Recommend
@Arvind:
Every one is not like you…. keep away from our internal matters…Recommend
@A:
And the Leading joint wicket taker in the 2011 World Cup, and the man who won us the t20 world cup in 2009 :)Recommend
come back Afridi plz comeRecommend
come back afridi plz plz pakistan need your help plz come back for your nation and contry plzRecommend
PCB has gone crazy !!!!!Recommend
Commenting here wont make any difference…We got to do something practical.
SHAHID AFRIDI is without any doubt our national HERO…
Imagine the kind of Joy n this boombastic lift to emtions we use to get with one SIXER from him …And see how Brutely our authorities r dealing with him … WHO is Hell is PCB to humiliate our national hero like this .Dont forget a apart of our tax money goes to PCB through which they do their operations. So technically they are answerable to US as well.
As they say ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS… Just Examine the difference AFRIDI brought in team after taking over the captaincy..
Check his performance in WORLD CUP
Played 6 Matches (Won 5) ( Lost 1 “Thanks to KAMRAN AKMAL)
They were number 1 in their Group .
And to be Honest it was ONE MAN SHOW.
Otherwise we were even going down against CANADA. (21 witckets in 8 Matches is some thing way more than Too Good).
If you Minus Afridi’s performance in world cup then PAKISTAN TEAM wasn’t even in position to qualify for quarter finals. It was a ONE MAN SHOW.
Even if we remember, IJAZ BUTT and his Team were reluctant to appoint AFRIDI as captain. But they had to coz of SPONSOR’s pressure as their Advertising Compaigns were already made with focus on Afridi. And Afridi Prooved IJAZ BUTT wrong by his performance.
The PCB LAW seems to be weapon which is used only against Players. Afridi fault was that he spoke truth , Even Book Makers like “MAZHAR MAJEED” said they couldn’t buy AFRIDI coz players like him play for pride not for Money.
ANd see what these Authorities has done with our ledgendry National Hero.
Bottom Line is IJAZ BUTT and company don’t have any right to deal with our NATIONAL HERO like this. Becuause PCB and it’s Law is not their personal property,
Its an appeal to all my NATION to get together in front of PCB offices in you cities and file a protest , we shouldn’t stop this protest until IJAZ BUTT and His company is not removed and unitl AFRIDI dont get reinstate as PAKISTAN CRICKET team captain. Recommend
Emotions or no emotions! Drama or no drama! Nothing matters..all that matters is that the PCB setup needs to change because Mr Butt has done nothing but destroy Pakistan Cricket! If this is his downfall then so be it! I support Afridi!Recommend
In so many years since his career start, he can not become a dependable cricketer rather batsman. If he would be been at the time of Great Imran Khan, he would have become a man of high calibe or out from cricket*, How can he become a successful captain because he is dependable cricket. Ehat is his performance in W, Indies.His career can be summed up in one inning i.i. fastest hundred against India/Srilanka.Recommend