The row between Shahid Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to have gathered more steam after the former captain said that statements by Ijaz Butt are a campaign to ruin his reputation.
The PCB Chairman, in a recent invterview, accused Afridi of being the cause behind Pakistan’s loss in the last two One-Day Internationals (ODI) against West Indies in May. Butt added that the 31-year-old was not captaincy material for the PCB anymore.
However, Afridi, who is currently playing for Hampshire in the ongoing county season, said that he will not keep on swallowing scathing remarks by the board’s officials.
“It’s disappointing and hurts me,” Afridi told The Express Tribune from Hove. “I’m enjoying my county stint and statements like that are disturbing,” said the all-rounder.
“The same people who are criticising me used to praise my captaincy.”
The PCB removed Afridi from captaincy after the West Indies tour followed by a retirement announcement by the all-rounder where he criticised the board officials and vowed that he will not play under the current set-up.
The board hit back by suspending his central contract and revoked his NOCs to play in foreign leagues while summoning Afridi to appear before the disciplinary committee.
Afridi followed up by filing a petition against the board sanctions in the Sindh High Court. But after an out-of-court settlement, Afridi appeared before the PCB disciplinary committee and was fined Rs 4.5 million and in return got his NOCs reinstated.
However, the dispute, which created a stir, does not seem to have finished as the former captain said the recent statements have prompted him to consider action.
“My silence is not my weakness. I just wanted to play and didn’t want controversy. But I can’t sit quietly while people level allegations against me.
“I will consult my lawyers after I return and then consider an appropriate response to the statements.
“It’s a campaign to tarnish my image and at some point I will have to respond.”
Afridi’s lawyer ready for action
Meanwhile, Afridi’s lawyer Syed Zafar Ali, who assisted the all-rounder in his petition last month, termed Butt’s statements as defamatory and said legal action can be taken against the PCB chairman.
“The chairman has alleged Afridi of causing the defeats,” said Ali. “To me Afridi can take legal action on it.”
PCB denies targeting Afridi
Meanwhile, a PCB official has denied running a campaign against the all-rounder.
“There is no campaign against Afridi,” said the official.
“The comments by the chairman have just been made in the light of [team manager] Intikhab Alam’s report on the West Indies tour.”
Ijaz Butt
“In my opinion, he made us lose the fourth and fifth ODIs. Our policy was to appoint a captain after every series and he knew that. As far as I’m concerned he’s not captaincy material for the PCB anymore.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2011.
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Mental maturity of players and PCB authorities is a question mark?
Afridi you have already to prove your worth as a batsman and captain; your long stay with Pakistani team had no impact on your peformance even a layman can improve his performance duing such long span.
You must know how to respect the seniors; even you have disgrace Mr. Waqar Younus who was and is a non controversial personality of Pakistan's cricket.
"Acts are sounder than words"
Afridi you did not prove your worth when you were captain now you just want to hide your past poor perfromance to be a vocal lad. shame on you.
why don't anyone of them tries to shut their mouths, they are fighting like kids, like women. Everything is going wrong here, they should zip their lips, we are fed-up of their lame fights.