Afridi doesn’t learn, say former players

Qadir, Malik lash out at all-rounder’s reckless approach.

LAHORE:

While Pakistan clinched a second-successive One-Day International (ODI) series, former chief selector Abdul Qadir blasted captain Shahid Afridi for not displaying responsibility that a leader is supposed to. Afridi managed 28 runs in three innings and was dismissed through reckless shots as Pakistan went down in the last two ODIs.

“Afridi knows each time he makes a mistake,” Qadir told The Express Tribune. “And it’s very surprising that he isn’t ready to learn.

“A captain should have the ability to lead from the front but the spirit of responsibility deserts Afridi. He may be a good player but his approach has damaged Pakistan cricket a lot as we have lost quite a few matches only due to his reckless attitude.”

Afridi has led Pakistan in 34 ODIs, winning 18 and ending on the losing side 15 times, but has often come under criticism for throwing his wicket away.

Former Pakistan captain Saleem Malik said that Afridi, who has an experience of 325 ODIs, should have learnt to make his wicket more valuable.

“He should understand that he is representing Pakistan and not an ordinary team,” said Malik. “He has played more than 300 matches and if he is a captain that doesn’t mean that he is forgiven for every mistake he makes.

“To me, he was never the right guy to be in charge but for some reason he was appointed because we had no other option.

“He confesses his mistake but never learns,” said Malik.

Meanwhile, former spinner Iqbal Qasim reacted differently on Afridi’s approach. Qasim believed that Afridi should be given more time but should also change his batting attitude.

“His batting has no doubt put a bad impact on the team but captaincy is an art. No one is a born leader and as a captain he isn’t bad.  He needs time to understand things.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2011.