Pakistan Cricket - Why Pakistan needs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482? - Opinion
After months of speculations regarding the possible comeback of former one-day captain of Pakistan Shahid Afridi in the national team, it is still not clear if the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board (PCB) is even considering the possibility of giving the realms of the
national squad to the hard-hitting all-rounder.
Now that manager http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045, it makes sense to recall Afridi who had developed estranged relationship with the duo during Pakistan’s five-match one-day
series in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760.
According to the 31-year-old Afridi, the team management was meddling in the selection of the playing eleven and since Afridi did not agree with them, the situation became a standoff between the skipper and the team management.
However, the chairman PCB http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adrian-Roger-Kirshaw-Pierson-c42135 by stripping him from his captaincy while retaining him as a player in the national team.
Afridi took this as an obvious insult and chose to quit international cricket than to play under another skipper, consequently the team under the leadership of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 where they beat the home side in a one-day series without the
services of Afridi.
Meanwhile, the former skipper signed a contract with the English county side http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hampshire-c789, to play for them during this summer season to avoid anymore controversies by staying in the country.
It has been almost four months since Afridi’s ouster and luckily Pakistan has not had a series against a competitive team otherwise Butt might have faced an embarrassment after Pakistan’s unimpressive performance, however, we cannot say that without Afridi
the talented Pakistani outfit is incapable of giving befitting competition to their opponents, nonetheless, the all-rounder was a beacon of inspiration for the youngsters in the team and with him gone, the players do not have anyone to look up to in the one-day
format of the game.
PCB has failed to remember that although Misbah is an exceptional batsman, he is certainly not an inspirational player in the limited overs format. While he may encourage youngster to play a well composed innings in Test cricket, the youngster need a genuine
one-day cricketer to guide them in the shorter versions.
With http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hill-c63180, he is certainly not done with his cricket and should be given an opportunity to represent his country
for a few more years.
It is only a matter of time when the bigwigs in the PCB realize that ditching Afridi was a mistake; however, by then it might be too late to rectify their wrong if Pakistan gets beaten up pretty badly by a formidable side.
The country’s upcoming series against Zimbabwe will probably reveal the direction in which Pakistan cricket will be heading in the coming months because the way they play in the series will exhibit their level in international cricket and capacity to take
on the mightiest teams in the world of cricket.
The duo of Afridi and Razzaq has exhibited profound cricketing skills in the English county this summer which is testament to their ability of playing cricket at the highest level and the PCB should not be arrogant enough to turn a blind eye towards this
reality.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy
Tags: