Afridi’s retirement a joke: Akram
Afridi, who announced his retirement after differences with the team management, said that he will not play under the current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, after head coach Waqar Younis’ tenure came to end with the conclusion of the Zimbabwe tour, Afridi expressed his desire to make a comeback.
Akram, not amused by Afridi’s comments, said the all-rounder should make up his mind ‘once and for all’.
“Afridi is making things too complicated for the PCB,” Akram told ESPN. “Cricket is a team game and not an individual sport. You have to treat the interests of the team and the management above your individual preferences.”
This was not the first time Afridi has decided to ‘resign’ from the team. After being appointed Test captain in 2010, the all-rounder quit after just one match, citing lack of form and ability to play the longest format. He also led Pakistan to the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup but was replaced by Misbahul Haq.
Akram said that Afridi needed to put aside his personal interests and play as a professional.
“His retirement has become a joke now. You will have difference with your coaches, chairman and with your colleagues but it should not show in your outlook. At the end of the day you are representing your nation – Pakistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2011.
COMMENTS (15)
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What I believe is that Afridi do change his statement frequently, but I also know that what an honest cricketer can also do? When management doesn’t want to promote good cricket instead they are more focused to clear their clashes as politician, or more into dealing nonsense corruption which leads to dissimilarities amongs cricketers. We should never forget the pressure he had to face at the time of World Cup Semi finals when on green ground it was very much obvious who has really put his last effort to make a team and nation wish victory in Semi Final. If he thinks that he can made up his mind again for good cricket we should welcome him to come back. Here Afridi should accept this fact that such immature decisions can’t be changed every time. Where as Ialso believe that Wasim is a legendory player and I always feel proud to see him standing beside Indian huge Cricket Commentators after Rameez Raja. But Waseem Bhai, App ko bhi zara dhiyan rakhana chahiyeh after all Indians are enough to criticize PCB and our players….
Absolutely agreed with Wasim Bhai's remarks. National interest should come first than personal one.. Afridi should carry on his cricketing personality with cricketing mind regardless of his personal issues.
Akram! We still love Afridi to play for us...applaud india and don't comment on our team.
exactly rite afridi performs in crunch game like the world cup semi final lolz... Akram is a star but i guess since he spends time in india nd uk he shouldnt talk much abt pak cricket i think... bcoz hes dizconnected frm coaching national side but he prefers coaching KKR...
Dear Mr. Afridi, With all due respect can we ask why you are going play upcoming T20 Cup in Karachi purely arranged by PCB? Please be a man of principle, as u claim to be so, and do not play cricket under current PCB management. Do you think people will easily forget what you state today and what (opposite to that) you do tomorrow?
Shahid was very hasty in making his decision on retirement, just wish he just understood what he was doing and the importance of retirement even if he termed it conditional retirement at the time, he acted childish with the whole matter but saying that I do also like to add the biggest joke is the whole set up of PCB its like they want to ruin the image of Pakistan & cricket the game, players cant breath without having show cause notice sent to their homes, they virtually getting paid next to nothing, they get given no respect no backing or support so i can imagine one suffering and lashing out. Pakistan has done nothing to improve on sports that they are weak like Football etc theres no improvement in place or money being spent no1 is paying attention to it etc, instead sport that puts Pakistan on the map is shambles and thats because of the Pakistan board. They should be nurturing young talent and respecting and using the exprienced players so that the system keeps a flow..None of the great talents have had a farewell they deserved, look at recent times Inzamam and Shoaib Akhtar? even Mohammad Yousaf took retirement forced him on that decision n then forced him to reverse and now have completely cut him out, who does that? When you see overall picture which we only see half of it (im sure there are worse things still brushed under the carpet) how bad or mad does someone like Afridi's decision seem! Why was he removed as a captain in the 1st place? Im not saying he was the best captain but he bought passion and agression to the game and united the team which we aint seen in long time.
Wasim is absolutely right. I dont understand how is Afridi going to face the same board he slandered like a villager. Its funny he actually thinks he has a chance to get back in the team. Its only Waqar who's left not the other pals he had problems with.
Waseem Bhai, whatever it is, we still want Afridi to play cricket for us,
afridi might be moody and even stupid, but one thing for sure... he is not corrupt...unlike the lord advice... and though mr. was u derive great pleasure and status from the mom of 92 final..well afridi had two mom's ...in semi final as well as final... he is a world champion too... most importantly he doesn't get "injured" in the most critical and crunch matches.... he performs... give him his due...
He has a point.
It is like the elephant calling the pig fat. -- funny and nice.
“Afridi is making things too complicated for the PCB,” Akram told ESPN. “Cricket is a team game and not an individual sport. You have to treat the interests of the team and the management above your individual preferences.”
This is coming from a guy who was caught red handed for match fixing, and had to use his contacts to threaten the whistleblower (Ata-ur-Rehman) in order for him to change his testimony given to the judge.
Later the judge admitted he took it easy on Waz because he was a fan.
As right as Waz is about Afridi, he shouldn't talk about 'interests of the team' when his own track record is so dirty.
If I were Wasim, I'd shut up about most controversial cricket related topics. It is like the elephant calling the pig fat.
Akram makes all his money in India and should therefore restrict his comments on Indian team only. He was a gambler who ruined Waqar's important years....