Misbah wanted Afridi for India ODIs – Cricket News Update
The ODI skipper of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Misbah-ul-Haq wanted the out-of-form all-rounder Shahid Afridi in the one-day squad for the forthcoming India tour, claimed sources from inside the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The Iqbal Qasim led national selection panel, on Monday named separate squads for the T20 and ODI legs of the tour of India later this month. Like always, the selection was not without disagreements, as the selectors reportedly overruled skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 for the three-match ODI series against the arch-rivals. The hard-hitting batsman has been, however, retained in the T20 squad for the India itinerary.
Despite Afridi enduring an extended lean patch, Misbah believes the presence of the experienced all-rounder will put pressure on the opposition due to his match-winning ability, said a source.
"Misbah...wanted Afridi in the squad at the cost of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 but the selectors rejected his suggestion," a source told media reporters on Tuesday.
"Misbah's argument was that Afridi remains a match winning player despite being out of form and his experience would count for a lot in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 under pressure and...his presence would put pressure on the Indian side given his past performances," the source added further.
The selectors, however, disregarded Misbah’s suggestions saying they wanted to rebuild the national one-day team keeping in mind the next 50-overs World Cup in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, in 2015.
Earlier, the PCB chief selector http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Iqbal-Qasim-c76980 had also admitted that dropping Afridi from the ODI squad was a tough call, adding that they did so in the best interest of the team.
"Dropping Afridi was a difficult decision," Qasim said at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. "He’s no doubt a great player and has the ability to win a game, but the decision has been taken in the interest of the team. If he performs well he can win back his ODI place in the future," he added further.
The Men in Green are scheduled to play two T20 internationals and three ODIs against India from December 25 to January 6 - the first bilateral series between the nemeses in five years. The players will assemble in Lahore for a seven-day camp, between December 14 and 22, before leaving for India on December 22.
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