Pakistan’s tour of India: Selectors ok with players prefering Big Bash over National T20
The selection committee will have no issues if the players opt for the foreign league and, according to an official close to the selection committee, the selectors, who usually prefer players on the basis of domestic performance, are ready to give a green signal for the Australian league.
The selection committee has held back the team announcement for the tour and will judge players’ performance at the National Twenty20 that is expected to be held in the first week of December. Pakistan will reach India on December 22 and will play three One-Day Internationals as well as two Twenty20s.
Afridi likely to opt for Australia
Meanwhile, the forthcoming domestic Twenty20 tournament was seen as an important assignment for former captain Shahid Afridi who is desperate to find form. Afridi has signed up with the Sydney Thunders and his contract with the Big Bash League team is likely to clash if the PCB event starts early December as planned.
Pakistan’s top spinner Saeed Ajmal (Adelaide Strikers) and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal (Sydney Sixers) are also contracted with the Australia event. Big Bash League starts on December 7.
‘Selectors will have no issues’
The selection committee, which was eager to see national players, especially Afridi, in action during the national event before forming the squad, has no reservations over their absence.
“We can assess their form and fitness by their show in the Big Bash League as well,” the official told The Express Tribune. “These players need to take the PCB’s permission first but as far as selection is concerned, we can manage it without witnessing their performance in the national Twenty20. We have, however, held back the announcement date as we want to make use of this event if it goes ahead as planned.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012.
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Hi Farrukh; You said it well you may not like to see him play that's fine ,however he attracts crowd in the ground and that matters most.People from all walks of life love to see him play because he is that rare creature in professional sport,a genuine match winner. When come to six-thirsty hitter ,Shahid Afridi stand above all of them it may be Andrew Flintoff of England ,Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka, Virender Sehwag of India, Aussie basher Adam Gilchrist or any other big name cricketer.He is also a good bowler and a fielder.
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@Farrukh Zain
You should avoid the use of "we" may be you don't need him which is fine, just don't claim to represent everyone, e.g I want Afridi in team and I don't care of he make 100 ducks in a row his presence alone is enough :)
Afridi will play again for Pakistan? Can't we just move on from afridis,akmals and razaqs
@m.johri: No we don't need him. Cricket is much bigger than one man. Cricket will move on and will find new Afridis. He is a spent cartridge and should bow out gracefully. He has already played too much cricket based on one inning. He should make room for younger and more talented players. He has played 349 ODI with an avg of 23.34, played 56 T20Is with an avg of 16.95 and 121 T20s with an avg of 18.73. This man has not been able to develop a temperament to play a solid sensible and consistent innings, hardly uses his brains (biting a ball during a match!!). It’s time for him to hang his boots..
Afridi can play the full season of the big bash if he wants, we don't need him vs India. However I would be concerned with sending Umar Akmal and Saeed Ajmal down-under.
I hope Afridi regain his best form soon.Cricket needs Afridi.