LAHORE: Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi said Monday the team's senior cricketers should be given dignified farewells, after veteran batsman Younus Khan was unceremoniously axed from the one-day squad.
An incensed Younus lashed out at selectors last week for not including him in their plans for next month's series against Australia, a decision he learnt about only when the squad was announced in the media.
The 36-year-old Test star, who has a history of making outspoken announcements, offered to step aside from all cricket for five months.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a show cause notice asking Younis to explain his outburst. But 34-year-old Afridi, who has already retired from Tests, backed his colleague.
"I request the PCB chairman to talk to Younus and make a plan for the future," he told reporters. "I think all the seniors should be given a respectful way to retire."
Former greats like Waqar Younis, Javed Miandad and Mohammed Yousuf were forced into humiliating exits despite years of service.
On the subject of the upcoming series, recently reappointed captain Afridi admitted his team would be missing the services of spinner Saeed Ajmal, who was suspended earlier this month after being tested with an illegal bowling action.
"We will definitely miss Ajmal," said Afridi of the ace spinner.
"But I am hopeful that Ajmal will alter his action and will be seen in action soon," he added.
Pakistan and Australia play one Twenty20 in Dubai on October 5 followed by three one-day internationals and two Tests.
COMMENTS (4)
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@Ih: Dude, dignified exit means that there is a proper plan once a senior retires or is about to retire. Pakistan has no strategy for handoffs. When Ricky Ponting retired, Michael Clarke was already groomed to take over. It is the same reason Abdul Razzaq was thrown out of the team without proper replacement in place and now we don't have a fast bowling all rounder in the team. Culture within the team is messed up and decisions to drop someone can't be taken easily.
The only time Afridi makes some sense is when he is talking. But too late, too little im afraid. Pakistan has a history of throwing out legends unceremoniously.
I totally agree with Afridi. Senior cricketers must be given a degnified retirement way. Even it cannot be a price of their role with cricket and pakistan cricket, but it will be a decent end of a cricket history chapter.
It will also encourage the retired players to play their role for young cricketers.
Grumpy old men clinging to jobs they cannot do. May be Afridi can define what he means by dignified exit so after losses to Australia it can be arranged for him.