Shahid Afridi back at T20 helm

KARACHI:

Afridi’s first task as skipper will be to lead Pakistan in the one-off  T20 against Australia on October 5. The board also backed Misbahul Haq to lead Pakistan in one-dayers and Tests until the 2015 ODI World Cup.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi has once again been tasked with leading the national T20 team until 2016 after captaining the side during 2010 and 2011. The 34-year-old replaces Muhammad Hafeez, who stepped down as the team’s skipper of the shortest format of cricket after Pakistan exited the World Twenty20 in the group stages for the first time in the event’s history.

Both developments seem to contrast with the PCB think-tank’s opinion, as they believe that Misbah needs to change his approach and should take risks whereas they themselves played it safe by not naming an untried T20 captain.

Opener Ahmed Shehzad had earlier emerged as a strong contender for the T20 captaincy when Muhammad Hafeez left the job after this year’s World Twenty20; however, his comments to Tillakaratne Dilshan appeared to have hurt his chances substantially.

There were rumours that the think-tank was looking at the option of trying youngster Sohaib Maqsood, but that did not pan out either.

“Afridi has been announced as captain of the Pakistan T20 squad till the ICC World Twenty20 in 2016,” conveyed the PCB in an official statement. “The decision to retain Misbahul Haq as captain of the Test and ODI squads till next year’s ICC World Cup was also reaffirmed.”

The T20, ODI and Test teams for the series against Australia will be announced in due course.

Afridi, who has so far represented Pakistan in 27 Tests, 381 ODIs and 74 T20Is, said that he was honoured.

“I am honoured to be given the chance to lead my country and will always do my best,” said Afridi.

“I’ll like to thank PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan and the whole management who reposed confidence in me to lead Pakistan in T20.

“I was able to take the best out of the players back in 2010-11 when conditions were unfavourable for Pakistan cricket, while today, the conditions are much better. Our team is good and the only thing which is needed to be done with the players is to get rid of the fear of failure and take criticism positively so that they can perform up to their potential.”

He further added that the current team management led by Waqar Younis and Moin Khan is doing well and also backed Misbah to bounce back in the next series, stating that he has done consistently well in the past for Pakistan, which must not be overlooked.

Former  Pakistan

T20 captain in 2010 & 2011

Reappointed in

2014 till 2016

Misbah retained despite flak

Veteran batsman Misbahul Haq has been officially retained as the national Test and ODI teams’ captain until at least next year’s 50-over World Cup. The 40-year-old has been leading both sides since 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Misbah’s future had been a target of severe criticism after Pakistan’s poor performances on their away tour of Sri Lanka, where the tourists were outplayed 2-0 in Test series and 2-1 in ODIs.

However, Misbah continued to enjoy the backing of PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan, who had earlier remarked that the performance in Sri Lanka was not a disaster and he believed in Misbah’s abilities.

Shaharyar had also stressed that one of his key principles will be continuity, not just within the PCB, but in the national team as well, and there will be no knee-jerk reactions for the upcoming series with Australia.

“In line with my policy of taking decisions democratically, I consulted the cricket committee and my board members before announcing these decisions,” said Shaharyar. “I wish both Afridi and Misbah the best of luck in their upcoming assignments.”

Appointed Pakistan Test captain in 2010

Appointed Pakistan ODI captain in 2011

Retained as Test and ODI captain till 2015 World Cup 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2014.