Afridi urges national selectors to pick up World Cup squad at their earliest – Cricket News Update
Belligerent Pakistan all-rounder and former limited-overs skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 Championship as soon as possible in order to give players time
to settle down.
Afridi, who is in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 these days to play two T20 and five One Day Internationals against the Islanders, told media reporters on Sunday that a delay in picking up the squad for the mega event could affect Pakistan’s chances in
the high-profile T20 competition.
The 32-year-old flamboyant http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 all-rounder insisted that this was the right time to finalize the squad for the esteemed tournament, adding, "It will allow the players to mentally prepare themselves for the challenge and plan
ahead. I think any more delay will affect our preparations.”
Shahid Afridi played a crucial role in his team’s success in 2009 and 2010 editions and was supposed to lead the green shirts in Sri Lanka. However, the PCB selectors last month named http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 as the T20 skipper for the ongoing
Sri Lanka tour, who is likely to continue the role in the esteemed tournament in September as well.
The drawn two-match series against Sri Lanka earlier this month was Hafeez’ first assignment as T20 skipper and Afridi hoped his leadership qualities would improve with time.
"Every new captain goes through a learning process,” said Afridi. “Hafeez also has to go through it and learn. I also was able to give my best as captain after going through a phase. Every captain becomes successful after learning with time," he explained.
Afridi, who was changed as the limited overs skipper last June following a spate with the then PCB chief http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Waqar-Younis-Maitla-c96193, insisted that he was comfortable playing under Misbah or Hafeez.
"They are very supportive. They don't hesitate to discuss things and I have no issues with them at all," said the hard-hitting batsman, who holds the record of scoring the fastest ODI century, off just 37 balls.
Pakistan qualified for the final of the inaugural World T20 edition in 2007 and won the title in 2009. In the previous edition, they lost to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747
in Group D for this year’s Championship, which kick starts in Sri Lanka from mid September.
A total of 12 teams, divided into four groups of three each, will be competing in the mega tournament. The Men in Green will play their tournament opener against the Black Caps at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on September
23.
Tags: