Future of Pakistan’s senior players – Part Two
Continued from the previous part...
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Ali-Khan-c89356 Afridi, has probably faced most of the criticism after the Green Shirts’ failure to qualify for the final of the illustrious trophy. The cricketer from Karachi was not in good
form going in to the mega event, also injuring his hand during the series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in UAE.
The World T20 in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 proved to be a complete disaster for the hard-hitting all-rounder, managing to score just 30 runs in six matches, including two ducks. Afridi failed to make an impression with the ball in hand as well, picking
up merely four scalps in the whole tournament.
Boom Boom played a vital role in Pakistan’s success in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, grabbing Man of the Match awards in the semi-final as well as in the final.
Majority of the former cricketers believe that the 32-year-old cricketer has gone past his best and should call it a day from international cricket, allowing youngsters to play instead.
Aaqib, who was Pakistan’s bowling coach during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, held in the sub-continent, feels that Afridi should have retired after that tournament. The former fast bowler is not happy that the selectors keep on
having the former captain in the team merely on reputation.
He feels that the senior players should assess their future themselves, rather than waiting for the time when they are dropped by the selectors.
"I don't know why these players don't show the sportsmanship and walk away themselves as he should have gone after Mohali semi-final [in the 2011 World Cup] against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750"," Aaqib said while talking about Afridi. "He had scored fastest
hundred 16 years back, it's the past and it has nothing to do with the present.”
The record-breaking all-rounder is not prepared to call it a day from international sport as yet and plans to continue representing Pakistan. While talking to the media recently, the former captain expressed that he is working extremely
hard to regain his form and will start to perform well soon.
Expressing his views about the entertaining cricketer’s future in the Pakistan team, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashraf-c46397, has made it clear that his fate will be decided by the selection committee, headed by
the former Test cricketer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Iqbal-Qasim-c76980.
“It is up to selectors to judge Afridi’s utility for the team, his form and fitness. I have kept myself away from the selection matters and would continue to do so,” Ashraf mentioned.
Over the last five years, the ‘Pathan’ has been a genuine match-winner for the country with his fast leg-spinners. However, throughout the current year, he has not been at his best, picking up just 15 wickets in 16 One Day Internationals
at a poor average of 43.13 runs per victim. With the bat, the hard-hitter has only scored 182 runs at 15.16 runs per innings, which are not satisfactory stats by any stretch of the imagination.
Pakistan’s next assignment in international cricket is the limited-over series against India in December, which is probably not the right series to experiment and Afridi, like some other senior players, are most likely to get another
chance to prove their credentials. However, failing to do well in the neighbouring country may cost Afridi his place in the national team.
To be continued...
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