‘Row derailed development plans’
Former captain Shahid Afridi said that his conflict with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) affected the team’s momentum, ruining the long-term planning for the side’s improvement he had done prior to his retirement.
Afridi developed differences with coach Waqar Younis and spoke his mind when he returned from the West Indies. The PCB removed him as limited-overs captain before he announced a conditional international retirement.
The row continued with a legal battle that eventually saw Afridi fined Rs4.5 million and getting his NOC reinstated to play for Hampshire.
But Afridi rued the dispute and said it derailed development plans.
“I made many plans for the team,” said Afridi. “Misbahul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez and myself were involved in devising many strategies but all was ruined because of what happened afterwards.”
The all-rounder led the side for over a year in limited-overs cricket including a series-win over New Zealand while being knocked out in the Asia Cup, and losing against England and South Africa.
Sticks to retirement decision
Meanwhile, the all-rounder maintained his stance on his conditional retirement.
“Pakistan is my identity and my country is my priority. I will definitely return if people want me to but I can’t play with hypocrites. They are working as a lobby and are two-faced people. I’m not the type to take u-turns but I’ll wait for things to improve. I enjoy playing with people who are sincere to the game.”
‘Not responsible for West Indies defeats’
Afridi, while responding to comments made by the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt that the all-rounder was responsible for the losses suffered in the final two One-Day Internationals, said that he was not involved in team selection.
“Everybody knows through the manager’s report that I wasn’t involved in selection because I walked away from the meeting. The chairman’s comments were really disappointing because the remarks he made don’t suit his stature. I was a hero for them after the World Cup and suddenly I became zero.”
‘Youngsters should get frequent chances’
“It’s good to include the youngsters but players like Ahmed Shehzad, Hammad Azam and Usman Salahuddin have potential and should get more chances.”
Afridi confirmed that he will be rejoining Hampshire on August 3.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.
COMMENTS (18)
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Dont forget the time when Afridi took responsibility of leading the team. We were hit with big controversies. our morale and confidence were at the bottom. Would you expect for such a team to reach to semi finals of the world cup when every body had written you off? Please give this credit to SHAHID AFRIDI. He led from the front. became the highest wicket taker and managed to bring the team together for that event. Please dont be biased.
@Tahir: we should not forget that afridi was the captain who lead us to our first odi series win in newzealand after such a long time, win in the westindies and lets not forget he took us to the semifinals of the world cup so stop being sucha afridi basher.
Enough, Afridi. Give it a rest.
Tit for tat, Afridi you dig hole for Shoaib Akhtar and Razzaq so it was obvious what is hapenning to you.
"I made many plans for the team" said Aridi.. How to chew ball without being caught?. You cannot plan few balls you play and your are talking about whole team. It was PCB and some pressure groups which kept you in the team for so long. Your career is over, but don't worry, you will stay in the news as before without doing anything.
Whatever he was he Held the team together. He led us to An honourable semi final game in the world cup, in which he was the highest wicket taker. Yes he's mad, yes he's hyper but he did the job well done!
Akhtar Forget all other things just temme when did Pakistan lose a war against India?? Actually India surely won in her compaign to brain wash Pakistanis!!
He took the team in semifinals and performed himself well in the entire tournament, how can one think of questioning his honesty and loyalty with the Nation?
One of the rare occasions that I am going to agree with an Indian player "Afridi is a 16 year old boy". He left the team coz they replaced him as the captain, it is as simple as that
Who was responsible for chewing the Cricket Ball?
Yeah, cricket is nothing without Afridi. Our cricket team future is similar to hockey team.
shahid bhai please come back to pakistan team there is no fun when you are not in a match all the nation loves you and misses you alot please come back
yes i agree afridi is responsible 4 defeat
Evry one knows whose fault it is. We all want u to come back but not forcingly, willingly we all love u and r always there for u.
" Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said that he was not responsible for the consecutive defeats against the West Indies during the five-match ODI series "
Dear Afridi, Plz dont worry about responsibility of defeat. No one was ever responsible for Abbottabad Raid, nor for the defeats in Kargil or any of the wars with India, or for loss of Bangla nor anyone held responsible for Raymond Davis or for Lal Masjid, or for Bhutto
s killings or for... .. .. .. We all have "Gigantic Hearts" that No one else has. Hows the earnings in English League? Next year, let`s play IPL too. Dont worry about defeats. Take care,One of your fan with a small heart.