‘Afridi is not a leader’

Former players question all-rounder's skills, role in the team.

LAHORE: Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi has come under heavy fire from the country’s former players who questioned his leadership ability in the wake of the team’s recent Twenty20 series-loss in New Zealand.

Following Pakistan’s 2-1 loss – the final-game win halting a series of six consecutive Twenty20 defeats – former players have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rethink their decision of making him the captain for the World Cup that starts next month.

“He was given enough time to prove his ability as captain,” former captain Aamir Sohail told The Express Tribune. “What I see is that he’s not a leader as the captain must have sense of the game and know how to improvise. Every time Pakistan lose, he comes up with a different story.”

Since Afridi’s appointment, Pakistan’s performance has remained poor despite having beaten Australia in a two-match Twenty20 series in England. Pakistan failed to make it to the final of the Asia Cup, lost the Twenty20 and One-Day International (ODI) series against England and South Africa before losing to New Zealand as well.

Sohail also lashed out at Afridi’s retirement from Test cricket after just one game into his comeback. “He was even tested in the longer format of the game earlier but it was a disastrous experiment for the board. They should understand his role in the side as he doesn’t even have a guaranteed spot ion the side as a batsman and isn’t a useful bowler any more.

“The PCB has ample time to change ahead of the World Cup and I see Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq as good options to replace Afridi in the ODIs.”

Advice for the captain

Former wicket-keeper Moin Khan has urged Afridi to stop criticising his own players in public.

“A captain should refrain from criticising his players in public because it can affect the team spirit,” said Moin. “Afridi is a very experienced player and should be aware of it.”

Despite his indifferent form, Afridi has not been short of excuses for his team’s poor performance, lashing out at team members in public.

Another former captain Wasim Akram felt that Afridi’s leadership in the ongoing New Zealand tour has not been up to the mark.

“One saw a lack of leadership in the team and the players also did not play to their ability and if they continue playing this way then they will also lose the Test and ODI series in New Zealand,” said Akram.

Tour match today

Pakistan will go into their only warm-up match before the first Test hoping for an improved performance after a 2-1 Twenty20 series loss in which batsmen failed to live up to expectations except in the inconsequential last match.

The three-day match against New Zealand XI will also allow Pakistan to field players from the Test squad – including captain Misbahul Haq – who arrived on the eve of the final Twenty20. Adnan Akmal, Taufeeq Umar, Khurram Manzoor and Azhar Ali will also get a chance to make their first appearance on the tour and press for places in the playing eleven for the first Test.

The first Test of the two-match series starts in Hamilton from Friday. Pakistan come on the back of drawing a two-match series against number two-ranked South Africa in the UAE.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2011.