Team united with Salman: Yawar

KARACHI: Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed has claimed that the team has overcome the shock of Shahid Afridi’s abrupt Test retirement and the players are now fully focused on levelling the series.

“Initially the players were surprised but now they are completely focused on winning the second Test,” Saeed told The Express Tribune from London.

Saeed added that the team is as united with the new captain Salman Butt as it was with Afridi.

“Each team member is supporting Butt and is eager to give his best in the last Test, hopefully we will come out victorious,” claimed a confident Saeed.

However he insisted that Afridi will be welcomed back when he rejoins the team as captain for two Twenty20s and five One-Day Internationals against hosts England in September.

“The team would definitely welcome Afridi as captain for the Twenty20 and one-day matches, there is no doubt about it,” said Saeed. After the Leeds Test, Pakistan play a four-match Test series against England from July 29 followed by two Twenty20 matches and five ODIs to conclude the lengthy summer series.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan team management has decided against asking for Afridi’s replacement in the Test squad.

“We haven’t asked the selection committee back home to send a replacement for Afridi because we do not feel the need for it,” said Saeed.

He added that the management is discussing selection for the final Test against Australia at Leeds and the decision whether to include a specialist batsman or a bowler will depend on the pitch and weather conditions. “Afridi was in the team as an all-rounder and it is yet to be decided whether to include a specialist bowler or a batsman for the Test.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2010.