Pakistan

Afridi withdraws from tour to West Indies - PCB source

The all-rounder has made himself unavailable for the tour which starts on April 18.

Reuters March 31, 2011

KARACHI: Pakistan's World Cup captain Shahid Afridi has withdrawn from next month's tour to West Indies, a source at the national cricket board told Reuters on Thursday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source, who declined to be identified, said the all-rounder had made himself unavailable for the tour which starts on April 18.

"He will not be going to West Indies as apparently he wants to take a break from the game," said the source.

Afridi retired from test cricket in 2010 but had been expected to play in the one-dayers and Twenty20s in West Indies.

Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup when they lost by 29 runs to rivals India in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

The flamboyant Afridi has appeared in 320 one-dayers, 27 tests and 42 Twenty20s for his country.

He has been captaining Pakistan in limited-over matches since last year.

Pakistan will play one Twenty20, five one-dayers and two tests in West Indies.

COMMENTS (64)

Pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply salam, Afridi all pakistani nation love you r one of the best Cricket Captain

Anwar | 13 years ago | Reply Please do not chew the ball again.

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A. K. Zack | 13 years ago | Reply Get Lost, no more cricket watching. Those praising our cricket team are just those ppl, who support our politicians in elections and later curse them after voting them. All Rubbish, lost is lost, score was too low to chase. no excuse whats so ever.

SB | 13 years ago | Reply OH MY GOD! We should have won this game if we haven't dropped those catches. Razzaq and Younis what the hell is wrong with them they have no spirit,talent or performance as a senior players. They didn't do a zilch and lets not forget misbah. Our batting line sucks we can't even defend ourselves against the score like pity as 260. Our batting starts falling like everyone is glued to each other one falls the rest starts trembling after. Why in the world their going to tour to west Indies that is so stupid. First learn how to bat and catch. The team, coaches and who ever in the hell is in charge sit and think billion time how to make yourself better and unbeatable against the score more than 200. This world cup could have been ours if it wasn't for stupid shots and dropped catches. I am disgusted by losing to India. We handed them the cup like it was a candy or something. Shame on us!

Salman | 13 years ago | Reply He was let down by corrupt teammates He should not play until all corrupt players like minah younus and akmal are removed firm the tam and PCM chairman resigns. Pakistan's honour ihas been sold by these crooks

Cars in Pakistan | 13 years ago | Reply what he can do, Pakistan only loss the match due to misba and Younis did not want, because he will become a legend like imran khan so then there mops for becoming caption will be over for ever. if i would be selectors i should not select they in any team ever again. plus kamran

A Kamal | 13 years ago | Reply The whole team is corrupt like our politicians and the masses continue to adore them. God help Pakistan.

A Kamal | 13 years ago | Reply the whole team is corrupt like our politicians and the masses continue to adore them. God help Pakistan!

SA | 13 years ago | Reply @Blithe: Finally someone spoke my mind. I'm tired of "Shahid bhai we're proud of you, Shahid bhai you are a hero" bit. Someone really needed to point out his flawed captaincy that was one of the reasons of defeat!!

kazmi | 13 years ago | Reply @ xoxo wht prove you have ,... tht it was fixed?? i dunt understand whenever pakistan team loses a match .. people dig out these kind of pathetic stuff!!! really dissappointing!! lets not forget Pakistan team won more matches thn India team!!! they defeated one of the best teams aussie and Sri lanka...!!! can just once we appreciate them for their hardwork!! ??? I'm proud of my team and always will be!!! they brought us to semi final .. who had imagined that??? Shahid is a honest guy, he already gave the explanation about the power play!!! so just leave the poor guys alone man!!

Trouble Maker | 13 years ago | Reply Of course he needs to take a break. Who will look after the big and small cows and the other businesses? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sfesabk1_A How can anyone concentrate on the game or team building when he is running several businesses? Let these folks look after the milk and egg business and find people who can commit to the sport.

Salman Orangiwala | 13 years ago | Reply We have had enough of you Afridi . Leggo of our expectation and better retire .(you would still be super rich : thanks to the canny commercial brand powers ) Please let us have the honor to utter ,Good riddance and Bon Voyage .

Rahmat Ali | 13 years ago | Reply All nation Love to BOOM BOOM

Adil | 13 years ago | Reply We love you Afridi... you are our nation's hero...

Afaq | 13 years ago | Reply Better he must quit!

AJZ | 13 years ago | Reply Good decision from Afridi... I think,we should support Afridi and other team members at this crucial time.. After all, they gave us hope to see cricket again.. after some controversies in cricket and bad times of country, team gave us so happiness.. reaching semifinal and fight at other's ground is not easy.. Pakistan team, great leader, united team, little experienced, done well in WC.. beaten Australia and Srilanka.. Afridi , We love you a lot.. we still need u and always need you in future.. Comon Afridi...!

Hmmm | 13 years ago | Reply Good decision - that will bring some sanity as regards the team selection, better utilization of players such as Razzaq, field placements and power play selection. He is fine as a bowler but he just does not make the cut as a captain. He is a fighter and people in the team respect him - but captaincy demands more strategy which he certainly lacks. I would rather have Shoaib Malik leading the team and Afridi playing as a bowler.

Saad | 13 years ago | Reply Shahid, we love you!

MShah | 13 years ago | Reply @XoXo: Agree!

MShah | 13 years ago | Reply I request authorities, Stop playing with peopls emotions, feeling. Give some respect.

MShah | 13 years ago | Reply @Sam: There is no point to not beleive in this :(

MShah | 13 years ago | Reply Agree with all comments! Cricket is becoming another sport like WWE. Very Sad.

Nageen | 13 years ago | Reply Go rest and revitalize Captain! You did great, we expect more in future!

KM | 13 years ago | Reply There should be a reason for him to withdraw, otherwise he should behave like a leader, and lead the team all through.

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply Shahid Afridi is going to wait till he receives 100 O' Please do the Calypso! He will then say OK for the nation's sake I will take the boat to Jamaica.

Zeeshan | 13 years ago | Reply No Comments....

haider ali | 13 years ago | Reply noooo afridi we need u..abhi tu team thori form me aye he..nd u r leaving it..ye dobara kharab hojaigi..plz dnt leave... younu,misbah nd razaq shud leave..

Sinah Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Man dont do ds.. we all love u like hell Shahid bhai n V NEED U BCK.. jus bcoz our team dint win coz ov "sum" players dsnt mean dat u shud go.. West indies tour wil b nothng specl wdout u.. its just u whom da nation supprts nw.. plz lala 4 da sake ov ur die-hard fans change ur decisn.. its really depressng 2 evn blv it.. it was u who mde us 4gt dat v r Punjabis, Pakhtuns, Sindhis or Balochis.. V had bcum Pakistanis.. n v owe u alot 4 all ds.. @ da ppl who r realy ridiculng da team n r suspctng dm mst knw dat if dey wre in deir shws, dey surely wudnt hv bn able 2 hold a bat.. Get sum lyf ppl.. Supprt Shahid Bhai n Team Pakistan.. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!

Umar Farooq | 13 years ago | Reply I don't understand why people loving Afridi. He since taking captaincy kept on losing things again and again .. disgraced the country several occasions by biting the ball, tempering the pitch. He in all important matches failed to pick up wickets and similarly throw his wicket each time when team needs him to stand tall in the middle. With a single lure he lost his temper.. and forgot the nation expectation. He missed picking up Power Play, when every single person in the earth understands the need then why he missed to take it. He lacks in captaincy ability he is only good to win public's hearts with excuses and apologizing. Where is his own individual performance in the semi-final match???????????? Pakistan is capable to beating INDIA – this is the fact.

gias | 13 years ago | Reply AFRIDI U R GOOD BT TOUR TEAM IS VERY BAD..ONLU U R THE MAN WHO THE NATION TRUST....

XoXo | 13 years ago | Reply India Vs Pak Match Was Fixed But Afridi wasnt involved in that fixing he was threaten by the fixer if he didnt lose the match they will surely harm shahid Family . also shoiab was out of the match they wanted him to play but not for wining for losing so Shoaib also rejected to play for losing. Thats the main reason afridi withdraw from WI Tour. and Thats why over Government being that much nice and rewarding them bunch of gifts and prize Money because they get the job done for them. Lord May Help Us and save us from these Leader who sold over dignity just for indian friendship,

A.ghaffar dawood | 13 years ago | Reply IF I were Afridi and if my Fielders drop four catch of ace Indian batsman I will not go with this team.

Saleem Ali | 13 years ago | Reply @slk: How do you know that the was 19-20 and not 16? Did you check out his birth certificate? Or were you invited to his birth 'ceremony'? Just because you were tiny when you were 16 doesn't mean everyone else has to be the same mate. And in case you didn't know, pashtoons born in tribal agencies (especially Afridis) are known to grow up quickly. Check your facts.

Adeel Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Probably disappointed how the players fixed the match and lost the semi final... It was simply shameful... I would be disappointed too if I was him

Jadoon | 13 years ago | Reply Its not Afridi who needs a break...............give Kamran Akmal big break.

Salman | 13 years ago | Reply Thats fine, your friends can fix the next one.

Zulfiqar Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Shahid bhai plz aap west indies zarur jao because you need to show yourself as more strehthen and aggressive. and plz dont take along misbah, younis, kamran and razaq. plz make an excellent team for WI. thanks

IZ | 13 years ago | Reply I dont blame him as the team has been almost non-stop touring the last year and a half. Hope he has a restful break and returns for the next tour. Even is his batting is not as potent as it once was he is a world-class spinner and valuable as a captain. Best of luck!

Abu Abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply Oh what, C'mom Man Cheer Up, theres no "Boom" in cricket without you :)

sceptic ali | 13 years ago | Reply he probably needs time to stash the money he and some team members received from bookies for throwing the world cup semi final.

Hamid Hanif | 13 years ago | Reply Afridi is a straight forward sportsman.A balanced personality with good leadership qualities.Yet have lot of potentials for the GAME & PAKISTAN. Hats Off for you.Best of luck for your Future. (WC 2015).

M Bilal | 13 years ago | Reply Why Man... Afridi We love You this team will be really dull without Afridi Factor... It should be rather Misbah, Younus & K Akmal that should make themselves unavailable for the team voluntarily, not YOU!!

MAD | 13 years ago | Reply This tells us that there was something fishy that went on. Somebody please come forward and save Pakistan cricket.

Ghazala Perveen | 13 years ago | Reply Good Afridi.. This proves that he is not playing for money like akmal brothers and other two senior players....He is a true man and we love you Afridi..

diya | 13 years ago | Reply Afridi bhai we want you as our captain in the next worldcup. Whole nation is with you.

Sam | 13 years ago | Reply This match was fixed but not for money. It was in the national interest of both Countries for Pakistan to lose and India to win. Let me suggest that a Pakistan win would have made the Mumbai venue for the final very difficult due to 11/26 and inability to provide fool proof security and the potential for Shev Sena to incite riots. This would have weakened the Congress Government or affected their electability. Pak govt wants Congress in power as it suits them compared to BJP / Shev Sena. Moving the venue to another city was too late as tickets have been already sold. I personally think this decision was lesser of the two evils and if this would save a single life in India due to riots, I would support it and it is worth sacrificing a thousand such world cups for this goal. It is astonishing to see that both captains and the man of the match (Sachin) had a blunt affect after the match and their body language was not consistent with true happiness or sorrow. It was evident something was bugging them. Done is done now so let’s move on. Looking at the match it was obvious that it was fixed. Misbah's painfully slow innings, Sachin's dropped catches, Afridi's decision to remove Ajmal from attack when he was bowling well, don't place slips despite several catches being dropped in that region and finally ridiculously soft dismissal of Hafeez, Shafiq & Younis. But you are right about the fact that only cricketers can't fix this match. This is a much bigger fish probably emanating from the cricket boards of the two countries. In modern diplomacy we call it bilateral agreement.

Uzair | 13 years ago | Reply AFRIDI......dont withdraw 4rm d tour....d team needs u......in ur absenc we may hav 2 face anoder controversy n d united team dat u hav built may get eroded.......n get imran nazir n nasir jamshed bak

kazmi | 13 years ago | Reply I just hope they dont replace him with any other captain!! he proved himself as a captain and a good player!! i think they supoort and appreciation he used to give to players was simply amazing!! even in tough situations!! and I agree with everyone we need you!!! we need people like you on our team!!! :)

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply This is very sad but all the same, he has his heart in the right place. He wants a break to take it easy and rest. The PCB should accept it and show some comfort. He deserves to take a break. The media hype was exorbitantly heaped on our team and who found it rather too hot to handle. Albeit the Windies tour is always a problem with some sort of a scandal raising its ugly head and 'muck-raking' being piled up on our players. Well thought of Afridi, this supporter is in your corner. Your team performed splendidly during the World Cup 2011. Salams for ever

mohtamim ahmad | 13 years ago | Reply Well Done Afridi-u did ur best and luck didn't smile on u this time. The nation and sane voices appreciate your team's great efforts--congrates on a very graceful exit. The feelings of a graceful defeat are worthier than a smooth victory.

Amir | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Shahid Khan Afridi, We as a nation understand the feelings that you are going through being a Captain. Making yourself out of the cricket make us more disappointed. Cricked has been reborn in Pakistan because of you. Please stay there we all need you, we support you, we all love you.

Syed Mohammad Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Well.... I am really disappointed. but ............ I want you AFRIDI for atleast 2 more world cups and we want to see you always AS A (PROUDEST) CAPTAIN OF PAKISTAN'S CRICKET TEAM......... not going to WestIndies is not a good decision but i can understand your feelings. We all PAKISTANIS always love you and always will INSHALLAH....... Afterall !!!!!!!!!!!!!! TUM JEETO YA HARO SUNOOOOOO.. HUMHEN TUM SE PYAAR HAI..... GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS......

Blithe | 13 years ago | Reply Frankly, Afridi is not a captain material. He is defensive and in the field (even a bowler like Shoaib does not get a slip). He does not know how to rotate bowlers (eg. Sohail Tanveer in New Zealand). He has no clue to manage the power play or use his batsmen (like the way he keep promoting himself ahead of Razzaq). He has no clue how to manage his own innings (leave alone manage a team). The worst is that he complains and nags about his team-mates in public (he descibed that tallest bowler ever on debut: "I am really dissapointed with that guy"). In this case he realy lacks character. At the same time, I love his energy levels and I think he is great individual performer, not as cpatain.

Ahsan Rasheed | 13 years ago | Reply V love u Afridi, and v have no doubts on ur intensions :)

Modasar | 13 years ago | Reply Shahid Afridi we love because of you Pak Team reached Semi Final and your the leading wicket takers (21 wickets) in the Tournament. We love you and i personally Worship you, you are my man. You can rest but please We need you!

slk | 13 years ago | Reply Afridi was definitely not 16 years old when he first appeared in 1996. He looked 19-20, at least. Given that his body is not that of someone who just turned 30, he needs time off with family and kids. Younger players such as Asad Shafiq--who unlike Umar Akmal seems to have a sensible head--should be given more responsible roles from now on to prepare them for the future.

Syed Sohail Nasir | 13 years ago | Reply Afridi, V need U, U gave your best but your team was not with you. Come back..

Anum Hameed | 13 years ago | Reply This is My Message to Shahid Khan Afridi U done one of the best individual performance ever in pakistan WC cricket history ..hard luck this time better luck next time cricket never ends just go on with passion like this .. thats all Love u Afridi Nilma azeem

UmEr | 13 years ago | Reply Afridi, we need you man, we still love you! Cheer up!

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply He was betrayed by Misbah & Co ... only WE have this ability to play this dirty game of politics for personal hate and jealousy at the cost of national pride

Asadullah | 13 years ago | Reply Good thing you got the date correct on this one ;)

Absar | 13 years ago | Reply Only one thing: The magic of cricket nowadays in Pakistan is alive much due to Afridi factor. Or in other words many of the older and youngsters -- at least many in my family, friends and acquaints -- watch cricket with passion because of Afridi.

Faisal Afridi | 13 years ago | Reply He is tired & he want's to Rest, Fair enough ! Good Work in the World CUP, Last Match with India was Suspicious! Did not took power play on time in the end, When Dhoni came an gave a slip catch, he did not introduced the slip, no pressure on new batsman were exerted.& Misbah's & Razzaq were on PICNIC that day !

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