We need to improve quickly, says Afridi
All-rounder refuses to talk about captaincy.
KARACHI:
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has stressed on the obvious need of improvement ahead of the Asia Cup, saying that the team showed weaknesses in all departments in the limited-overs series against England.
The Asia Cup will be played from March 11 in Bangladesh and will feature world champion India and Sri Lanka, besides the hosts.
“We need definite improvement,” Afridi told reporters in Karachi after his return from the Bangladesh Premier League. “We need to overcome the mistakes we made in all departments. The Asia Cup won’t be an easy task and we’ll have to be at our best to make an impression.
“We needed to play positive cricket in every single match. I’m optimistic that the team will bounce back in the tournament.”
‘We under-performed in all departments’
Commenting on the One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 defeats at the hands of England, Afridi said that batting failure cost Pakistan dearly.
“Just like Misbah said, it was mainly the batting failure that cost us both series. In fact, I feel we were not at our best in all departments. We made mistakes throughout and now we need to play in an attacking style.”
The all-rounder admitted his poor form, especially with the ball.
“I was not up to the mark but I will try to do my best in the Asia Cup.”
There were reports of a recurrence of infighting in the team, following the Test triumph, which affected Pakistan’s performance in the latter part of the tour. That dismal show also reignited debate of a change in captaincy with fans demanding the re-appointment of Afridi as ODI and Twenty20 captain.
Afridi was removed as captain by former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt after a rift with then-coach Waqar Younis and many former cricketers believe he still is the right person for the job. Afridi, however, refused to comment on the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2012.
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has stressed on the obvious need of improvement ahead of the Asia Cup, saying that the team showed weaknesses in all departments in the limited-overs series against England.
The Asia Cup will be played from March 11 in Bangladesh and will feature world champion India and Sri Lanka, besides the hosts.
“We need definite improvement,” Afridi told reporters in Karachi after his return from the Bangladesh Premier League. “We need to overcome the mistakes we made in all departments. The Asia Cup won’t be an easy task and we’ll have to be at our best to make an impression.
“We needed to play positive cricket in every single match. I’m optimistic that the team will bounce back in the tournament.”
‘We under-performed in all departments’
Commenting on the One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 defeats at the hands of England, Afridi said that batting failure cost Pakistan dearly.
“Just like Misbah said, it was mainly the batting failure that cost us both series. In fact, I feel we were not at our best in all departments. We made mistakes throughout and now we need to play in an attacking style.”
The all-rounder admitted his poor form, especially with the ball.
“I was not up to the mark but I will try to do my best in the Asia Cup.”
There were reports of a recurrence of infighting in the team, following the Test triumph, which affected Pakistan’s performance in the latter part of the tour. That dismal show also reignited debate of a change in captaincy with fans demanding the re-appointment of Afridi as ODI and Twenty20 captain.
Afridi was removed as captain by former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt after a rift with then-coach Waqar Younis and many former cricketers believe he still is the right person for the job. Afridi, however, refused to comment on the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2012.