Pakistan

Afridi available for West Indies tour

All-rounder says fans’ pressure changed his decision.

Fawad Hussain April 04, 2011

KARACHI:

On public demand, Pakistan limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi has expressed availability for the upcoming Caribbean tour that also includes a One-Day International (ODI) series against the hosts.

Following the semi-final loss against India, Afridi hinted he would take a break from the tour, citing a hectic schedule that has seen Pakistan tour England before playing a ODI series against South Africa followed by a series in New Zealand and the World Cup.

However, the all-rounder, who was the joint leading wicket-taker of the World Cup with India’s Zaheer Khan, has changed his mind.

“I wanted to rest but I’ve changed my mind,” Afridi told The Express Tribune. “I’m available and will leave with the team for the West Indies tour.”

‘Fans’ pressure changed decision’

The Pakistan World Cup hero said pressure by fans forced him to change the decision.

“I’ve been receiving messages since I said that I wanted to withdraw from the tour.

“But I have to change the decision as my supporters want me to play.” The tour starts from April 18 with a warm-up game and comprises a five-match ODI series and two Tests besides a Twenty20.

Delighted on being named in the World Cup team

Meanwhile, Afridi was also happy after he was selected in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2011 team of the tournament. He is the only Pakistani to feature in the 12-man squad.

“It’s a great feeling to be among the best in the world,” said Afridi. “I am happy to be in the team and looking forward to continue performing for Pakistan.”

A five-member panel selected the team including former South Africa wicket-keeper and the ICC General Manager David Richardson, ICC Elite Panel umpire Aleem Dar and ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle besides a couple of senior journalists.

World Cup finalists India (3) and Sri Lanka (4) contributed a total of seven players to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 team of the tournament while there is a player each from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand apart from Pakistan’s Afridi in the 12-man squad. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara was named the captain and wicket-keeper of the team.

ICC World Cup 2011

Sachin Tendulkar     (Ind)

Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)

Kumar Sangakkara     (SL)

Mahela Jayawardena (SL)

AB de Villiers              (SA)

Yuvraj Singh             (Ind)

Shane Watson         (Aus)

Shahid Afridi            (Pak)

Dale Steyn                  (SA)

Zaheer Khan             (Ind)

Muttiah Muralidaran   (SL)

12th man: Tim Southee         (NZ)

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (32)

An observer | 13 years ago | Reply what a good decision made by Afridi, well done!!

Sanam | 13 years ago | Reply Luv uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu afridiiiiiiiiiiii we r with uuu

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Raj | 13 years ago | Reply Non sense...Canada won the world cup...no ice hockey team from Cricket playing countries can beat even the Canadian Women's Hockey Team.

junaid | 13 years ago | Reply i think the way he was acting.....he was measuring his chances of an IPL inculsion but denied so,he has sought to continue the tour on PUBLIC DEMAND..lol:)

MV | 13 years ago | Reply @Madrassa: @Mirza: You may wanna be careful about your comments man. Are you sure he decided not to play before because he felt fragile? Or maybe it was his father's critical conditions because of which he decided to stay at home after a 50 day ICC WorldCup trip. Lets all try to pity and hate a little less and be a little more reflective than reactive. Support never really cost anything. :)

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply Dhoni is not in the team because Sanga is there. Nothing against Dhoni but Sanga is a Titan among batsmen. Once Sanga is included in the team, there is no reason to include another extra wicketkeeper. Sanga can be included as a batsman alone, wicketkeeping and captain-ship comes as a bonus. Boom boom changes his mind like a little girls (sorry little girls). He loves his cronies to beg him to come out of retirement or a much needed break. As if a man in his 30's is too old and fragile to play cricket, only after a few weeks rest. Grow up and behave like grown ups. Mirza, USA

AJZ | 13 years ago | Reply Love you Afridi... :) Sanga is better captain than Dhoni.. He is leading his team greatly since many years.. Performing well than Dhoni...

opinionated | 13 years ago | Reply http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Indians-not-as-large-hearted-as-Pakistanis-Afridi/articleshow/7861946.cms guys does any one know about this interview, please post a link to the video, i wanna know how true this is!

Aamir | 13 years ago | Reply Bring back Fawad Alam and Shahzeb. Consider Shoaib Malik and Asim Kamal too. PCB should give chance to others players as rotation policy and give rest to current players.

Amer | 13 years ago | Reply @KM: Oh come on!! Afridi has a right to strike whenever he wants just like our intelligent doctors!! So, suck it up!

Rizwana | 13 years ago | Reply Boooooooom boooooooom shahid bhae we are with you , dnt lose hope we sall are with you ur are only goood one in east and west just afridi bhae is the best..... Gooood luck shahid bhae lov)e you gooood luck

fayyaz mangi | 13 years ago | Reply Thank you Afridi for all the good that you have done to pakistani team in few months time. just another favour needed. please advise Misbah we already have too smart people in the world. We will consider him a hero only when he does good for the team. Some body need to tell Misbah, result-less smart, study actions will look good at the catwalk platform not at a cricket match where nation expect results Fayyaz Mangi Karachi

aqsa | 13 years ago | Reply @ hmmm i care, we care n whole country should care about not only the carrebian tour but each nevery tour ofour team o that it should progress.

S. Ahmad | 13 years ago | Reply It is high time for Afridi to recognise the urgency of the need to leave the captaincy and also the team for making room for new players. He is not up to the task of captaincy as we have seen repeatedly, and his batting for so long has absolutely been disastrous. When we needed him the most to stay, he played shots one could hardly imagine. So we request: please leave now when there is still a chance to leave with dignity – although we know such opportunities are rarely capitalised in our culture.

Jabeen M | 13 years ago | Reply yaaaaaaaaaaayyy !!!! <3 AFRIDI :)

KM | 13 years ago | Reply Is there anything called "In the name of the COUNTRY", Mr Afridi??? Why should the public demand all the time? Don't you owe to this country, with the love and respect the country has given to you? Please come out of this politicians aura, and start behaving like a soldier, as this country has the entire right over all of us.

alamzeb peshawari | 13 years ago | Reply yes Afridi go ahead .... we love you and we are with you...... and we proud of you ..... Boom Boom Afridi . shahid khan afridi .........

vinod wadkar | 13 years ago | Reply CONGRATULATION FOR WINNING WORLD CUP N………………………………….CHAK DE INDIA.......!!!! DE GHUMA KE.........!!!! BLEED BLUE..........!!!!!!!!!!

opinionated | 13 years ago | Reply i agree with mr barlas! what's with the use of "public demand" afridi is going to represent the country at cricket not perform an item number in the Caribbean!

Faraz | 13 years ago | Reply yes Afridi go ahead ... we love you we are with you ... boom boom afridi

MAD | 13 years ago | Reply @Pacific: If you take a close look Dhoni isnt part of the team. thats why he isnt captain.

Aritra Ghosh | 13 years ago | Reply Dhoni must be included. He is the captain of the World Champion team.

Hmmm | 13 years ago | Reply Who cares about the Caribbean tour anyway?

Anis | 13 years ago | Reply I think he should drop this tour

Pacific | 13 years ago | Reply @Leopard: Just playin good knocks is not enough for one to quallify as a captain. It's all about leadership & not loosing your head at critical situations. Dhoni is way ahead than sanga in this respect. and Dhoni's one knock at the most vital point of the WC(i.e. The FINAL) is way better than all the combined knocks of Sanga. and taking your statement of "this selection is done by looking at the knocks" into consideration, Mahela & murli shoud have been dropped in the first place...

Leopard | 13 years ago | Reply I too agree with you pacific but Dhoni as captain had played only one knock but sanga had played throughout the tournament and this selection is done by looking at the knocks.....and jaywardene case is a 50-50 case....

Tarun | 13 years ago | Reply Murali as a spinner is nonsense Dhoni should be the Keeper and the captain

sadiq | 13 years ago | Reply Afridi rocks, the succes awaits him its a long journey ahead.....

Pacific | 13 years ago | Reply I do not agree with this ICC WC team... ->Murli's inclusion is a surprise for me. he hasn't done anything significant in the WC. Tahrir(SA) or even Hafeez(Pak) should replace him. -> Sangakara as captain is even bigger surprise(rather shock) ->Dhoni is a better captain than Sanga in any given day. After the Viru 99* fiasco & toss incident in the WC final I must say, Sanga is at par with Punter in ill-spirited sportsmanship. -> though Mahela's final knock is one of the best & flawless of our times, Jon Trott of England deservs a place at 4 instead of Mahela.

Madrassa | 13 years ago | Reply Small man. Pity him.

honey,haji shb,fari | 13 years ago | Reply LUV U LUV U LUV UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...................................................AFRIDIIII BIIIII

M. Tauseef Barlas | 13 years ago | Reply who made "PUBLIC DEMAND"? it is just like "NATIONAL INTEREST" widely used by our politicians. very interesting.

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