Pakistan Cricket Team: Who is a better Captain Shahid Afridi Vs Younis Khan
Pakistan is one of the most unpredictable cricket teams when they are on the field, but their exploits off the field are equally bizarre. The man in charge of the Test side, Captain Shahid Afridi hasn’t played a Test in 4 years. The most experienced bowler, Danish Kaneria is under the scanner for his alleged involvement in match fixing saga. The first-choice wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is amongst the worst to don the gloves and the batsmen who defied the Australians in the team’s last outing, Khurram Manzoor, has been dropped for no reason.
However, the most shocking of the decisions by the Pakistan Cricket Board has been the inclusion of Shoaib Malik and the exclusion of Younis Khan. Both former captains were banned for a year and for indefinite period respectively after the Australian tour earlier this year for creating disharmony in the side. But within 4 months, one of them – the one guiltier than the other – is back in the side for doing nothing except getting married to an Indian tennis star and celebrating their honeymoon in Dubai. The selection of Shoaib Malik, the man under discussion here was defended by the skipper Shahid Afridi, who said that Shoaib scored some runs in New Zealand and that is why he was selected, and Younis was left because he didn’t do much. Nevertheless, a look at their records not only suggests that Afridi was out of the Test team but also didn’t watch the matches.
While Shoaib Malik made his Test debut as a bowler in 2001, the 28 year old has never been a regular in test matches because of his inconsistency. Some say he is afraid of the new ball, while many believe he is an average batsman in a side with more below-average cricketers. In his 29 tests for his country since his debut, he has scored just 1517 runs with the help of 2 centuries and 8 half centuries. He didn’t bowl much in the last few years and has been an average fielder as well; dropping more catches than holding, recently. He has taken 19 wickets at an average of 63 runs per wicket and held on to just 16 catches. On the recent tour of New Zealand, former Kiwi wicket keeper Ian Smith called him a player who is on another planet while fielding, who can’t field, bowl or even bat!
On the other hand, there is Younis Khan, the batsman who not only scored a century on his Test debut in 2000 but also mesmerized bowlers with his batting. Be it Australia, New Zealand, England, the West Indies, South Africa, India or his favourite side Sri Lanka, Younis’s record against all has been exemplary. He has won more matches for his country than lost with his batting prowess, has never been part of any controversy and above all, has done the green shirts proud. In his 63 tests since debut, he has scored 5260 runs at an impressive average of 50, with the help of 16 centuries and 21 half centuries. His tally of 67 catches suggests that he is a better fielder than anyone in the current squad. While last year the 32 year old showed that, he has the ability to bowl and surprise the best of batsmen, taking 5 out of his 7 wickets in the last 18 months. His highest score of 313 came in 2008 in Karachi, and he has crossed 150 on more than 6 occasions, a feat Shoaib hasn't been able to touch once since his highest score is 148 not out.
In matches since January 2006, Younis and Shoaib have scored more or less the same number of runs, 444 by Younis in 5 tests at an average of 63, while Shoaib’s 441 runs have come in 8 matches at 36. Both have scored a century each but Younis outscored Shoaib by miles with his 313, only the third triple century by a Pakistani. While Shoaib, who is an all-rounder, has taken 6 wickets at 55 apiece with his off-spin, Younis has emerged as a quality medium pacer, taking 5 wickets at 48.
Had sane people got the reins of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Younis Khan would not only have been in the side but he would be the skipper. However, sadly, that’s not the case and in this world full of idiots. Pakistan has the highest number of people who seem to be on another planet, when making decisions that could make or break the cricket team, and devastate the fans throughout the world.
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