Is Shahid Afridi the right man to take Pakistan Cricket to the glory days
Pakistan team clinched a victory in ODI cricket after a nine match drought when they earned a 139-run win over Bangali Tigers. Pakistan set a record total of Dambulla track (385-7) but Bangladesh team could manage only 246-5 in reply.
Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi played a magnificent knock, 124 off 60 balls, in his eminent Boom Boom style. It was Afridi’s highest ODI score and his second hundred of the tournament. Afridi swaged total 21 boundaries, including four sixes, in his total of 124. He also passed the record of maximum sixes (270), of Lankan Tiger Sanath Jayasuriya.
Pakistan cricket may have gone through tumult over last few months, and were knocked out of the Asia Cup in its league-stage, but the coach, former fast bowler Waqar Younis, is quite optimistic about the future of his side. He said soon the cricket fans will see Green Shirts back on the winning track.
Younis said that the signs of revitalization of Pakistan cricket were evident in the Asia Cup though Green Shirts crashed out of the continental event.
“We are in the rebuilding process with a couple of youngsters in our side. We didn't qualify for the final but the boys performed well. What they are missing on the field will come with experience. It's just that one extra step you need to start winning and it will come soon,” said the national coach of Pakistan.
With a record making end of Asia Cup, Afridi’s side is now planning for its crucial England tour where they will face two cricket giants, the Ashes rivals, Australia and England.
Pakistan will start the three-month long tour with a T20 international against Aussies and will play two Test matches, their home series, against Australia before they play the hosts in two T20, five ODIs and four Tests. The exhausting tour will come to an end on 22nd September.
Pakistan has announced its two separate squads for T-20 and test matches for the tour of England. Former captain Younis Khan was not included in the squad announced for the three-month exhausting England tour. Younis Khan got an indefinite ban from PCB after winless tour of Australia. His ban was revoked last month and it was anticipated that he will make the squad for England tour.
PCB did not given any reason for leaving 33-year-old Younis khan behind even though his indefinite ban for disciplinary offences has been reversed.
Former Pakistani cricketers have expressed surprise as well as anger over omission of Younis Khan from the Test squad announced for the tour of England.
Former Pakistan coach, legendary Javed Miandad said that Younis Khan and the speedster Shoaib Akhtar should not have been dropped from the Test squad for the England tour.
He said that he did not get the logic of selection committee behind the exclusion of two experienced players.
"It’s not fair to expect youngsters to perform in difficult playing conditions in England where Younis and Akhtar could have made the difference with their experience," said the former coach.
Rashid Latif, Pakistan’s former wicketkeeper said that the selection committee has picked a wrong combination for the England tour. He said Younus, Sami, Faisal, and Khurrum Manzoor must have been included in the squad. He also backed wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed who has been ignored after making the squad for Australia tour earlier this year.
Former captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan also expressed his amaze at the exclusion of Younus Khan. He said that Younis is a first-class player and deserves better, he should have been included for such an important tour.
Meanwhile, Younus Khan who is busy playing county cricket for Surrey is expected to get a fresh show-cause notice from PCB.
Advocate of PCB, Talib Rizvi said “As per order by Irfan Qadir, we will send another show cause notice to Younus in a couple of days”.
Rizvi added that the length of Younus’ ban will be decided by the board after receiving a response from Younus Khan.
On the other hand, unlike Younus Khan, fast bowler Rana Navedul Hasan has said that he is ready to request chairman PCB, Ijaz Butt to review his one-year ban and fine of Rs. 2 million. Naveed was advised by board-appointed arbitrator Irfan Qadir to approach the board like the other banned players did last month.
All-rounder Rana Naved said he will try to see the PCB chairman before the hearing of June 26.
Despite of all these off-field issues, the positive thing about the plunging Pakistan cricket is the break-up of their consecutive nine loses in the One Day Internationals. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and expect some good shows from the Green Shirts in their England tour.
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