This is not the right time to retire for Shahid: Rashid Latif
Former captain says the 34-year-old all-rounder best suited to replace outgoing Misbah
Shahid Afridi announced his retirement from ODIs before Misbahul Haq. PHOTO: AFP
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Rashid Latif claimed in an interview to Press Trust of India (PTI) that all-rounder Shahid Afridi should reconsider his decision to quit ODIs after the World Cup.
"I don't think this is the right time to retire for Shahid," said Latif.
"Misbah has already announced he will retire after the World Cup and I think the Pakistan team needs to be captained by a senior and aggressive player like Shahid for at least a year.
"It is never a good idea to build a new team with a relatively inexperienced leader and that is why I think Shahid should reconsider his retirement decision and stay on atleast until the 2016 World T20 to also lead the one-day side.
"And with many players now establishing themselves in the national side it is a safe move to ask Shahid to not retire and lead the team in ODIs for atleast a year until the board grooms a younger captain under him."
Former selector Saleem Jaffer also seconded Rashid's opinion saying that after Misbahul Haq's departure from ODIs, the 34-year-old all-rounder is the obvious choice to lead team Pakistan.
"In such circumstances Afridi appears to be a good choice to be asked to stay on and lead the team in one-dayers as he has the required experience," said Jaffer.
"I don't think this is the right time to retire for Shahid," said Latif.
"Misbah has already announced he will retire after the World Cup and I think the Pakistan team needs to be captained by a senior and aggressive player like Shahid for at least a year.
"It is never a good idea to build a new team with a relatively inexperienced leader and that is why I think Shahid should reconsider his retirement decision and stay on atleast until the 2016 World T20 to also lead the one-day side.
"And with many players now establishing themselves in the national side it is a safe move to ask Shahid to not retire and lead the team in ODIs for atleast a year until the board grooms a younger captain under him."
Former selector Saleem Jaffer also seconded Rashid's opinion saying that after Misbahul Haq's departure from ODIs, the 34-year-old all-rounder is the obvious choice to lead team Pakistan.
"In such circumstances Afridi appears to be a good choice to be asked to stay on and lead the team in one-dayers as he has the required experience," said Jaffer.