Pakistan ODI and Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi eyes rest of the English summer
The talismanic ODI and Twenty20 captain of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, Shahid Afridi, is really looking forward to the rest of the remaining series between England and Pakistan. Afridi wants to the end the series on a high note.
Pakistan cricket has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt have been implicated in a spot-fixing scandal. However, the ICC has decided that the series between Pakistan and England will continue.
The focus will now be on Pakistan’s ODI and Twenty20 performance. Pakistan really has to think about cricket and nothing else, despite the team being really under pressure after the match-fixing scandal. It will be really interesting to see how Pakistan go about their business on the remaining tour.
Shahid Afridi said: “Myself and the coach are trying to keep morale high. It’s always very difficult in these conditions against a good team but they are all really focused.
“What has happened has gone. We are here to play good cricket. It’s a big challenge for me personally—playing in English conditions is always difficult.”
Regarding the remaining matches, Afridi said: “We are all looking forward to it. It has been really difficult but we can forget everything, get out, play the cricket and entertain the people.”
Shahid Afridi has been an instrumental figure in Twenty20 cricket for Pakistan. Pakistan’s maiden world T20 victory in England in 2009 is one of the biggest achievements in the history of Pakistan cricket. A lot of credit for the victory of that World T20 deservedly goes to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482. Afridi scored 176 runs in the tournament in 7 matches at an average of 35. He blossomed more with his bowling, taking 11 wickets at 13. His back-to-back fifties in the semi-final and final earned him the man of the match award.
This year, however, Shahid Afridi’s performance hasn’t been up to the mark in T20 cricket. He has scored 117 runs at 13, and is yet to score a fifty, with 33 being his best. He hasn’t been able to impress with ball as well. He has taken 7 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 37 with 2/33 being his best.
The recent form of Boom Boom Afridi has been excellent in ODIs, however. Pakistan last played ODIs in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in the Asia Cup. Though Pakistan lost the Asia Cup, it was an excellent tournament for Shahid Afridi, earning him the man of the series award. He scored 265 runs in three matches, with 124 being his best. He took two wickets in the Asia Cup.
On the other hand, the current England team is playing fantastic cricket, in all formats of the game, for the last couple of years. They are the current world T20 champions. England’s last ODI series defeat was against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747, and Australia.
Shahid Afridi will be tested in these conditions against England with the bat. Shahid Afridi has played 17 matches against England, and has scored 271 runs at a modest average of 18. He has excellent figures against them with the ball. He has taken 27 wickets in 17 matches at a very impressive average of 18. His stats with the bat have suffered in England. He has just 82 runs to his name in 8 matches with an average of 13. Afridi with the ball has been at his best in England, with 10 wickets to his name at an average of 19.
Shahid Afridi, with his all-round abilities and leadership qualities, will be very crucial to Pakistan’s cause in England. It is the way he plays, and the way he leads the side that will inspire the team.
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