Afridi would struggle to find place in T20 team without captain badge: Sarfraz Nawaz

Former cricketer says Afridi can no longer be trusted to perform; says PCB should stop giving T20 captain chances

ISLAMABAD: Former Test cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz on Tuesday said Shahid Afridi would struggle to find a place in the T20 team if he hadn't been made the 2016 World Twenty20 skipper.

Pakistan won the recently concluded T20 series against Zimbabwe with Afridi scoring just two runs in each match.

He bowled three overs for 23 runs in the first T20, while in the second T20 Afridi bowled four overs giving away 26 runs without taking any wickets in both matches.

While talking to APP, Sarfraz said a player like Afridi, who performs once in a blue moon, could not be trusted.

Read: Pakistan whitewash Zimbabwe in two-match T20 series

Afridi also performed poorly in the National T20 Cup held at Rawalpindi in September and when Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan was asked about it, he said Afridi is capable of enormous success and is a match-winner who can turn a game on its head at any stage. He also assured to support the all-rounder for the World Twenty20 in India next year.

However, Sarfraz said it is the foolishness on part of the PCB as they have time and again given chance to Afridi even after dismal performances.

"PCB should not go on ifs and buts hoping that Afridi would perform some day," he said, adding what is the mistake of other deserving players who are far better than him?

Speaking about the Pakistan-India series, Sarfraz said the neighbours have always given a cold shoulder to PCB.

"Pakistan should stop thinking about India and must move on," he said, adding many other better teams are waiting to play against Pakistan.

But Sarfraz said India owes us compensation and should compensate PCB for the loss of the series.

“Though the International Cricket Council (ICC) is fully influenced by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), still the PCB must go to them in this regard," he said.

Sarfraz was also critical of the PCB in off-spinner Bilal Asif's case, who was reported for a suspect bowling action on Tuesday, saying that the board should have checked his action before playing him in the national team.

"They should have seen and sorted his action before," he said.

Commenting on Younis Khan, Sarfraz said Younis deserves a place in the ODI squad as a player like him can stay on the crease for 50 overs but our other players cannot.