Cricket Special Report: Pakistan’s Captain Afridi Retires from Test cricket after losing its first test match against Australia
Shahid Afridi caught everyone off guard by announcing his retirement just after Pakistan lost its first test match against Australia. Some may call Afridi’s latest decision an embarrassment but honestly it’s a courageous decision. The gentleman rightly thought that he is unfit for test cricket and called it off. Afridi was never interested in test cricket after his retirement in 2006. PCB wrongly pushed the wrong person for the test job. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 may be excellent in ODI’s and T20 but lacks temperament for test cricket.
One has to give credit to coach Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi for gelling together the team with a new spirit, which saw them out play Australia in two T20 matches. Naturally it was difficult for Afridi to lead the team from front with his style of play. Afridi got out playing a horrific shot in the second innings of the test match, which created doubt on his role as a captain. After just playing three balls Afridi attempted a ridiculous slog sweep only to find Mike Hussey on boundary. He rightly felt that he is not an example for youngsters to follow and honourably announced his retirement.
He said: "I did the wrong thing." Most importantly Afridi immediately realised the best thing for Pakistan for which he should be credited. "I think my temperament is not good enough for Test cricket and I am struggling with a side injury. I think maybe the next Test will be my last. The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board asked me to play Test cricket, I wasn't thinking about it." Afridi has also set the right precedence for the captains that will follow. Previously a captain would never retire until he was thrown out of the team but this move by Afridi is in the right direction.
It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan. Now it will be interesting to see who will be teams new test captain. Afridi in his press conference said Salman Butt is the right option for the job, since he has consistently done well in test cricket and has shown test temperament. However PCB thinks otherwise, PCB in its statement said Butt is not an automatic option for captaincy.
Skipper further added: "The captain should be an example for the youngsters. I was in two minds whether to play my natural game or whether to take my time, you can say I was weak mentally, I'm not good enough for Test cricket. Salman is showing his maturity. He's good enough to take over this team as captain."
Waqar Younis called Afridi’s decision in the interest of team and backs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-c88163 Butt to replace him. Pakistan Coach said: "Butt has been announced as vice-captain and he'll probably take over."
The chairman PCB Ijaz Butt is likely to decide a new captain for test cricket. Ijaz said Afridi will not play the second test match against Australia. Chances are Salman will lead the team in second test match. Some media reports suggest that Mohammad Yousuf has called Ijaz Butt and has shown interest in the position. Mohammad Yousuf’s last outing against Australia was disastrous for Pakistani cricket. After that series PCB inquiry committee was formed which came out with heavy punishments and fines for seniors players of the team.
Afridi made his test debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in Karachi on 22 October 1998. He played 27 test matches for national side and scored 1716 runs with an average of 36.51. During his test career he also picked up 48 wickets. He scored five centuries and 8 fifties in his short test career.
PCB already made a mistake by appointing Afridi as a captain in the test format, when he was only interested in T20 and ODI’s. Salman Butt is the only and right option for test cricket, since he is the only non-controversial batsman who will keep the spirit alive besides he is a proven test player. Any new experimentation will only cause more problems for national side. With http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 calling all the shots, one can never be sure of anything.
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