Hafeez backs under-fire Afridi – Cricket News Update
Pakistan’s T20 skipper Muhammad Hafeez has thrown his weight behind under-fire all-rounder Shahid Afridi saying the swashbuckling all-rounder is going through a lean patch, but he gave his best in the World T20 tournament.
"He is a match winner, there is no doubt about his abilities. But I think... he is really in a bad form at the moment," Hafeez told media reporters when asked to comment on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482’s dismal performance all through the tournament.
"He's really worked hard in the whole tournament, but unfortunately things didn't work for him," the Pakistan skipper added further.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20, with some former players asking the all-rounder to quit international cricket with immediate effect.
The 32-year-old hard-hitting right-handed batsman, who also bowls right-arm leg-spin, failed to make an impact with both bat and ball during the 12-team mega event in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, compiling a tally of just 30 runs in five innings, including
two ducks. The veteran leg-spinner was also almost ineffective with the ball, as he could pick up only four wickets in six matches at an average of 42.25, only better than http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604 (56.00).
It was being anticipated that after struggling in the first two round of the marquee tournament, the all-rounder would return to form in the semi-finals. But Afridi continued with his poor run, as he was bowled out for a first ball
duck, off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 struggling at 91 for six in their 140-run chase.
The former T20 captain of Pakistan also failed with ball last night, as he claimed only Mahela Jayawardene’s wicket, while conceding 28 runs in his four-over spell.
“I can understand as a captain, as a player, when things don't work for you,” said Hafeez, who was appointed as Pakistan’s T20 skipper in May this year. “But he is a character, he is always a hard-worker and I think he is trying to come out of it (which)
is a positive sign for us as a team. So that's the reason we have given him all the chances,” he added further.
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