Pakistan

Afridi should captain Pakistan in tests: Imran Khan

The main reason for India winning the World Cup is that their captain Dhoni leads them in tests says Imran.

Reuters April 06, 2011

KARACHI: Pakistan's limited overs captain Shahid Afridi should return to test cricket and skipper the national team in all three formats of the sport, former captain Imran Khan said.

Afridi pulled out of a test series against Australia last year in England after losing the first test at Lord's as captain.

Since then he has only captained Pakistan in one-day internationals and T20 matches. Senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq led Pakistan in their last two test series against South Africa and New Zealand.

Afridi, who led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the World Cup that ended on Saturday, has made himself available for this month's tour to the West Indies after previously planning on missing the series.

"There should be just one captain for all three formats of the game," Imran told reporters at a function held in Lahore to honour Pakistan's World Cup umpire Aleem Dar.

"The main reason for India winning the World Cup is that their captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads them in tests, ODIs and T20 cricket," the cricketer turned politician said.

Imran, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup title in 1992, said that Dhoni had matured quicker as a captain because he had developed the temperament to handle the different pressures of the three formats.

"Afridi must also be captain in all three formats of the sport. My belief is that unless you captain in test cricket you can't really be at the top of your game," he said.

Afridi withdrew from test cricket after claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family and focus on the limited overs game.

COMMENTS (21)

cosmo | 13 years ago | Reply Wow a Five-Day match for Afridi. Well, I wonder how many balls does he has to "eat" in order for his team to win? Or in afridi's words "smelling the ball with teeth" !! Enjoy the infamous interview here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOQo36HENrM

Templates Rule | 13 years ago | Reply Well Afridi is growing not only as a cricketer but as a person also. I am sure he will do good job in future as well for Pakistan but i do not support him as a captain in test cricket as well. Misbah or Younis must be captain for that.

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Ron(Indian) | 13 years ago | Reply Afridi will be very good politician...

MAD | 13 years ago | Reply @justar: He has my vote all the time. my point was that please do not compare Imran Khan the politician with Imran Khan the cricketer. I meant that when he talks about cricket than its fair to say that he probably is right. Im trying to illustrate that no one and I mean no one can or should think of contradicting or double guessing Imran Khan.If he thinks Afridi is capable of captaining the test side than I accept that without reservation as should we all. Please dont mix cricket and politics together. not here on the sports section. besides in my case atleast you were preaching to the converted. infact am actually disappointed that you reacted that way.

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 really lacks character. At the same time, I love his energy levels and I think he is great individual performer, not as cpatain.

justar | 13 years ago | Reply @MAD: If you like your politicians as the current lot are, then I am glad you think Imran has failed. He has failed to be corrupt. He has failed to be dishonest. He has failed to be uncaring about his fellow citizens. He has failed to run and hide. He has failed to give up. He has failed to speak with a forked tongue. He has failed to be a lota. He has failed to achieve the low caliber character of 99.9% of the politicians you pay attention to. Wake up and smell the coffee my friend . . . if you love your country and its people the way he does!

hallaj | 13 years ago | Reply We all concede that Pakistan team performed well in world cup. No disagreement. But the question worth asking 'was it due to Afridi’s captaincy? I will say No. I think it was the ‘erraticness’, we are famous (or infamous) for. I think we should really look for a captain who owns cunning and thinking brain. .

MAD | 13 years ago | Reply Imran Khan is a mediocre politician maybe even a failed politician. what he says regarding politics can be ignored. But when it comes to cricket Imran Khan is Pakistan's greatest player. he is among the greatest all rounders ever to have played the game and widely acclaimed as one of the greatest ever captains. I dont think any of the above have the right to criticize or to even disagree with the man when he talks about cricket. If he thinks Afridi can be a good captain well since he knows a lot more about captaincy than all of us combined so how about we all just stay quiet.

Javed Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @Kaisar A; agree with you but a youngster should be groomed under Misbah, say for about 2-3 years till Misbah plays- Hafeez or Azhar

Khalid Kamal | 13 years ago | Reply Well, sometimes another cricket old or otherwise can exactly judge the situation ..... Though it is much easier to comment. Afridi maybe fickle minded due to his incomplete exposure. We have tried many novices at BiG spots why not in cricket ;

Ayaz Noor M | 13 years ago | Reply @Kaisar A.: soon Misbah's position in the ODI side would be questioned, and you expect him to captain the side?

Amer | 13 years ago | Reply A captain or any senior player pulling out or running away in the middle of the series is the most disappointing feeling for the fans and I am sure for the players as well. Afridi pulled out of the test series himself and resigned. He has no interest in playing tests but then I don't understand what Imran Khan is thinking? Is he thinking that Afridi will start enjoying test cricket now? or is he thinking that Afridi's playing and captaincy style will improve after playing test cricket? I think Imran Khan says things that are far from reality sometimes and this is surely one of those times.

Palvasha von Hassell | 13 years ago | Reply I suspect Imran is right, certainly about having one captain for all formats of the game. And Afridi, for all his faults, I believe can inspire, he has the human touch. Perhaps playing all formats will mature his temperament.

A | 13 years ago | Reply Misbah and other senior should retire know they cant play the next world cup. Afridi should be captain in all three formats of the game. We should not expect Afridi to score runs since he is a bowler, not a batsman.

Usman Arshad | 13 years ago | Reply A question to everyone.. Why dont you see the results, we reached to the finals...we were miserable in 2003 and 2007 and who was playing then. Waseem, waqar, shoaib, syeed anwar, inzmam, all great players. the thing is that he unites the team, brings energy into the game, give confidence to every indivisual...that what and that just pakistan needs...and i am sure he will produce goods in the comming series.

hahahah | 13 years ago | Reply khan sahib has lost it!

naeem khan | 13 years ago | Reply I remember his innings as captain in Lords test.......I dont agree with Great Khan.

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply agree with him !!

John | 13 years ago | Reply Mr.Imran Khan should forget about cricket and focus on his politics, which is more important for PAK than cricket.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply Unlike Dhoni, Afridi has chosen not to play test cricket after disappointing results. Afridi changes his mind faster than the fashion trends. Nobody can force him or anybody to play against their will. Afridi is not a stable person and changes his mind depending upon the time of the day. Misbah seems too educated to lead the Pakistan test team. Afridi's temperament suits more to the 20's or only 10 over games. Five days matches are too much for him in his "old" age. Mirza, USA

Kaisar A. | 13 years ago | Reply Unexpected and uncalled for comments from Imran Khan; even after looking into his persistent below par leadership qualities, this is disappointing. Afridi is not a captain material .... he is too impulsive whose head stops thinking after his Plan A fails... Misbah should be captain in all formats. Asad Shafiq or Azhar Ali should be made vice captain as both have good temperament. Hafeez could also be a good choice as deputy but for short term.

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