Afridi stumping all with his logic

Afridi's decisions and love for retirements do question his ability to withstand pressure from his own divisions.

Shahid Afridi’s decision to retire (for now) took me back a few years.

Street cricket is a craze in Pakistan. But every now and then, there pops up an egotistical maniac, one who owns the bat or has a majority stake in the equipment, someone who refuses to grow up, urging things to be done his way or threatening to end to what could have been a thriller in the making.

How Afridi managed 300-plus One-Day International wickets and close to 7,000 runs is beyond belief, not only because he started off as a bowler but also because of his refusal to learn much from his experiences.

Often Pakistan’s saviour in dire straits, the forsaken panic button pressed needlessly, has left the world questioning his attitude towards cricket, the nation and, above all, captaincy.

Coaches, managers and peers are at a loss trying to justify the recklessness that oozed every time he took guard. The majority parted ways with a ‘that is how he is and has been’, as he displayed a queer reluctance, perhaps inability, to mend his ways, damning his possible ascent to greatness.

Afridi is a favourite of millions, including me, and will be, despite his antics off the field and horrors on it. His flicked sixes and his non-spinners left us in awe. And his outstretched celebration, despite stretching shamelessly beyond the egotistical limits, defines a man eager, and destined, for greatness.

But his decisions and love for retirements do question the all-rounder’s ability to withstand pressure from his own divisions. He has a tendency of throwing away his wicket away, often throwing away chances to single-handedly guide his team past the line. He has done the same with his career and the accolade that is being Pakistan’s captain. Afridi walked out on Test cricket, a single match into his comeback. Following the Mohali debacle, he was again forced to tour the West Indies. He kept blaming the board for the ‘broken’ team handed to him, and talking about how he cast this spell, turning them into world-reckoners.

He did, and while self-respect is one thing, embarrassing yourself, and Pakistan, beats all. It was sheer comedy when he stated that he decided to give up on Test cricket as he skied one off Marcus North. He chuckled, knowing his witty reply had left journalists humoured but the 30-odd chuckles in return mocked Pakistan’s captain, one who refuses to take the captain’s arm band seriously.

And then he plays the ‘awam’ card, forcing the majority to wipe out the sins from their memory: The ball-biting, the rush of blood, the illogical decisions and the dancing down – and on – the pitch. While the Pakistan Cricket Board remains the biggest culprit, and Afridi cannot be damned solely for his latest outburst, the capers of the past force us to think of what he could have been if logic was taken on board early.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2011.