Sports

Afridi dismisses reports of rift in the squad

Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi vows to fight with available players in the UAE series.

Umar Farooq/saleem Khaliq October 12, 2010

LAHORE: Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi has vowed to fight with the available players in the UAE series and dismissed reports of any rift over team selection.

The allrounder, who met coach Waqar Younis and newly-appointed manager Intikhab Alam to chalk out strategies for the series against South Africa, was reportedly unhappy with selection.

“It’s up to the selection committee to pick the players,” said Afridi. “My job is to fight with these players on the field. I can give my suggestions but it’s up to them if they want to accept or refuse them.

“I have, however, been saying that the committee should make a pool of 20 to 22 players for the World Cup so that I can give them a proper run during the series against South Africa and New Zealand. I don’t know why things are not taken as they should be but I’m afraid if I retaliate, things can go against me and my well-wishers have advised me to concentrate on playing cricket and doing well.”

The all-rounder was earlier reported to be unhappy over comments made by the coach after the tour of England. However, Afridi ruled out any rifts and said that the team was looking forward to the preparations for the upcoming series that start with a rescheduled training camp from October 17 to 21 in Lahore after the conclusion of the Twenty20 Cup.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Nadeem | 14 years ago | Reply Afridi is doing this since he was first named captain of the team. He always has excuses even before the series. Someone should tell him that you are the captain not the chief selector. He was unhappy with the squad for World T20 Cup, the same happened when Pakistan toured England and now again... A true leader should know how to utilize the available players. He insisted for Irfan and Shahzeb, what both of them performed? Afridi should remember that Pakistan gave him alots of chances and may be more cricket then he deserved. People like him because of his aggresive nature, but as a cricketer!! well look at his batting and bowling averages, ordinery and he played more then 300 ODIs. Afridi should thank the fan club otherwise he is just an average player who played a lot more then he deserved.

Que | 14 years ago | Reply Afridi: A true hero for the Pakistan Nation! An 'Icon' in the cricketing world! Wish him success all the way! Cheers!

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