Ijaz Butt not http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sahibzada-Mohammad-Shahid-Khan-Afridi-c87933 should be sacked and need for Imran Khan
Shahid Afridi was unceremoniously sacked as Pakistan’s One Day International (ODI) captain by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in favour of the 36-year old veteran, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, by none other than everyone’s ‘favourite’ (PCB) Chairman, Ijaz Butt.
The decision took many by surprise especially after what Afridi had accomplished during his reign as skipper and one wonders if the sacking is the right move?
Was it done for the good of the team and cricket in Pakistan? Or was it another one of the power games and behind the scenes politics that the Pakistan Cricket Board has become so well known for?
Afridi led Pakistan to their first series win in almost three years and although he won 18 of the 33 matches he was in-charge, it was a much better record than many of the nation’s recent captains.
One must not forget the fact that Afridi led what can only be described as a listless and weak Pakistan side all the way to the semi-final of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, a side that had not been lost a World Cup match since 1999.
More than just a captain, Afridi was a leader and finally got a team together with players seemingly playing for a cause. Maturing into a leader, Afridi led by example finishing the World Cup as the leading wicket-taker, along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Z-Khan-c98379.
Follow all that up with Pakistan’s second ODI series win against the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Waqar-Younis-Maitla-c96193, which resulted in the former’s sacking.
The fact is that whatever the issue was between the two it was probably irrelevant and the PCB just needed an excuse to be able to flex their muscles and exercise their authority needlessly as they have done on so many occasions in the past.
It might even have been out of spite for Afridi having retired from Test matches just a few days after being announced as captain. While many have found Afridi’s honesty commendable when he plainly said that he did not have the temperament for the longer
format of the game, the PCB may have taken things differently.
Afridi built a team and achieved more than anyone could have expected from the side and his reward was being removed as captain. It just goes to show that for Butt and the PCB performances do not matter and decisions are not taken on the basis of merit.
As for the PCB itself, well it would be more appropriate if they were a political party as all they seemed concerned with is the power game. In fact, Ijaz Butt in his three year tenure as Chairman has changed captains nine times, so one wonders are the captains
the problem, or, Butt himself.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292, the former Pakistan bowling legend, even went on record to state that sacking Afridi was a ‘mistake’ on the Butt’s part and many other former players seem to agree.
The fact that Butt has not given any reason for his decision is just as baffling and leaves one questioning the level of professionalism of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mal-Loye-c1879.
In http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zulqarnain-Haider-c98685 being one of many examples, maybe it is Butt who needs changing.
Then again who could one replace him with? http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-Khan-c64237 has to be the most suitable candidate if the former World Cup winning captain makes himself available. Already a major player in Pakistan’s political scene and with extensive knowledge of the game, he
would be perfect.
In the end, Ijaz Butt can play with power all he likes and claim it is for the good of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gordon-Muchall-c1499 longer Pakistan cricket may be taking three steps back for every step taken forward.
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