Pakistan

Afridi under the PCB scanner

All-rounder’s performance in Ireland series to determine future.

Umar Farooq May 20, 2011

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to remove Shahid Afridi from one-day captaincy has also put the all-rounder under the scanner as his performance will be of keen interest in the series against Ireland.

Afridi, who was retained in the squad for the two-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Ireland, was replaced by current Test captain Misbahul Haq on Thursday.

And while the PCB declined to give reasons, the decision was made after his remarks on the team management’s interference and his continuous outburst in front of the media, according to reports.

The PCB has also decided to keep a close eye on his performance during the Ireland matches. The hard-hitting batsman and leg-spinner has seen a dip in performance and claimed two wickets in five ODIs and scored 28 runs in three innings against the West Indies.

Comments landed Afridi in trouble

His remarks, where he stated that everyone in the team should mind their own business, did not sit well with the PCB, following which the board stripped him of the captaincy. And while Afridi showed willingness to play against Ireland series as captain before he left for the US, the PCB thought it was in the best interest of the team to reduce him to an ordinary member.

Form another reason behind sacking

According to PCB officials, Afridi has never inspired his team as captain as he has thrown his wicket away at crucial junctures, another factor behind the board’s decision.

The PCB will also make a final decision with regards to his future after receiving the team manager Intikhab Alam’s report on the West Indies tour.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2011.

COMMENTS (8)

ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Shahid Afridi is the man with compassion towards poor masses. He helped them during recent flood in Pakistan. He is a honest and trustworthy guy as I can see. PCB shoud put his home in order first. Afridi, do not worry Almighty Allah is with you and this is only a temporaray setback that Almighty wants you to give you a little rest and release your pressure. The wheel will turn soon in favour of you. Ahmed - Sri Lanka

kingly | 13 years ago | Reply yaar...he is still in team...and he let us down every single time,when the eyes of the whole wide world from the presidents of the countries to all the cricket greats alive watching only him,all eyes on afridi and he fails each time and smiles that i am a bowler first , who cares that i scored 6500 runs 6 centuries and 40 half centries....will razaq ever say that ? how is afridi better than , just bcoz he can make a pepsi add ? pls make room for hammad azam and azhar ali in ODI squad...there will be less disappointments in future...they are both good for 30+ runs at worst...pleeeeeeeeeez...if afridi can replace inziand yunus khan,then the worst has already happened to Pak...new guys r coming up so make room people.

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A.J. - Shahid's Angel | 13 years ago | Reply Removing Shahid Afridi from captaincy is the worst decision & action taken. I finally had the chance & honor to meet Mr. Shahid Afridi last night, May 19, at the Islamic Relief Fundraiser event in Anaheim, California. Shahid Afridi is a strong, competent captain as well as a wonderfully kind generous, sweet man. Seeing & meeting him in person, there can be no other qualified choice for captaincy but Shahid Afridi. He has an amazing, powerful presence in the fundraising room combined with gentle tenderness to all of us fans. Shahid Afridi has led his team by being an example of focus, determination, patience, understanding, and vision to reach his team's goals of winning as many games as possible. Instead of attitude towards Shahid Afridi, the PCB needs to show gratitude for Afridi's dedication & accomplishments! What a shame Shahid Afridi has never been appreciated by the PCB, and it looks like the hopeless bunch of PCB members will never learn to value a man like Shahid Afridi. Removing Afridi from captaincy will only make the Pakistan cricket team will suffer

Shehzad | 13 years ago | Reply Next Captain after 6 months would be Abdur Razzaq.......

Riaz | 13 years ago | Reply Comments about Misbah are nonsense. we wouldn't be in those world cup in the semi final and final in the first place. It is rest of the team which had to perform better. He is not a super human and he makes mistakes as well. Any times he scores less then fifty we lose so much for his losing ability. Why don't other 9 batter step up to the plate. Why Razaq didn't cross ten in the semi final ? what about younus, afridi?

akki | 13 years ago | Reply it is misbah who dropped easy catch of sachin tendulkar & other one by younis khan caused us loss in semi final and also bated very slow in the middle over .he does not deserve to be in team and its shocking that he is been named as odi captain . Whoever says that afridi is not perfoming its wrong it was he was leadin from front taking higest wickets in world cup and taking such a weak team to semis is not easy task .what happend in wcup 2003 &2007 under the captaincy of waqar &injamam even after picking their best 11 they were not able to reach in super8.

Fraz | 13 years ago | Reply What does it mean that Afridi does not inspire the team? Sure he has thrown his wicket away but he is not a batsman in the first place, he is a bowler and he has always been one. Keeping the Pakistan team united is very difficult but Afridi kept them united and took Pakistan to its best World Cup run since 1999 this year. Misbah on the other hand is responsible for two world cup losses now. The first in WorldT20 2007 and now World Cup 2011 where he played the most bizzare innings you can possibly imagine.

Modasar | 13 years ago | Reply Ijaz Butt Please do us a favor and leave PCB you are related to Zardari that's why ur still barking and making stupid decisions which re not needed. Why you had to remove Afridi as captian and why PCB is keep changing and ruining the PAKISTAN CRICKET TEAM for good. At least leave cricket along our Nation is sold to Western and extremists why Cricket is sold to Ijaz Butt?? I hate you Ijaz Butt.

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