Catch-22 for under fire Shahid Afridi – Opinion
Had it not been for a series against India, Pakistan might have continued to carry underperforming http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, who has had a terrible year especially in the recent months where his form seems to be getting worse.
Failing to score any mentionable knocks in his recent outings, Afridi was surely heading for his ultimate doom before his axe from the national team.
However, he is Pakistan’s sweetheart and watching his career come to an end is something most Pakistanis of this generation never thought they would have to see. Nonetheless, as all good things must come to an end, so does Afridi’s career.
The question is, has the time come for Afridi to take his final bow, as a keen follower of Pakistan cricket I would certainly say no to the notion as Afridi still has got some cricket left in him and looking at Pakistan’s current situation they do not have
any suitable replacement for Boom Boom, which means that it would be wise for the PCB to continue using the flamboyant player.
His exclusion from the ODI squad for the India tour has sparked criticism and a debate all over Pakistan where while some have welcomed the move, others have called it a big mistake.
Either way, Afridi dug up his own grave, had he focussed on his recent performances, he would have not been in this position. An in-form Afridi is the most difficult player to be left out of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, but it were his lacklustre services that convinced the
national selectors to axe him.
Still due to immense pressure, the selection committee later clarified that Afridi’s international career was not over and his return would depend on his performance in the two T20s to be played against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, beginning from the 25th of this month.
Putting so much pressure on Afridi was like signing his assassination orders, which perhaps was the aim of certain selectors.
With so much on his mind, do they honestly believe Afridi would be able to humble his opponents in the T20s? A rational mind would argue that Afridi will most likely crumble under pressure by failing to perform in the T20s.
The decision to include him in the T20 squad and leave him out of the ODIs was lunatic right from the start. It is clearly unfair to give a struggling player 20 overs to prove his worth as a batsman. It would have been better to just push him in front of
a car instead.
Afridi is clearly caught in a death trap, his career is at stake and one slipup would open the doors of exile for him. He needs to walk tentatively here in order to survive as he knows and his fans know that the player can still keep wearing the greens for
another two more years.
ODI skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 was left dumbfounded when even after his insistence to include Afridi, the selectors chose otherwise in all their wisdom.
Afridi’s former senior http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Inzamam-ul-Haq-c64383 has also come out in support for the flamboyant all-rounder and has advised him to enjoy his game. Well we all know how Afridi likes to enjoy by going after the ball as hard as he can.
Well technically Afridi plays best when he does not hold back, however, times are against him and perhaps a little caution in selecting his shots just mind extend his international career.
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