Pakistan in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 under fire after ODI loss
Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has again come under fire from former Pakistan cricketers after losing the first One Day International of the six-match series against New Zealand.
New Zealand won the match in Wellington by 9 wickets after the tourists had posted a meagre total of 124 runs while batting first.
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir was outraged at the way Pakistan played under the captaincy of Afridi. The veteran was upset at the lack of seriousness shown by the skipper on the field while batting as he gave away his wicket by edging a delivery
of Tim Southee in a casual manner.
“How a captain can ask other players to show responsibility if he himself is guilty of such horrible strokes to let the team down,” he said.
Pakistan were 57 for 5 in the 20th over when Afridi joined Misbah-ul-Haq on the crease. But even with plenty of overs to bat, the skipper decided to take risks and play in his usual flamboyant way.
Afridi tried to clobber a few deliveries but failed and gave away his wicket after scoring 15 runs off 29 balls.
Qadir on the other hand refused to accept any excuses regarding the pitch and stressed that professional cricketers should be able to bat on any surface that is given to them.
“This is professional cricket and the professionals have to perform in all playing conditions and under all circumstances. The conditions or the swinging balls should not be blamed,” Qadir said.
The former leg-spinner was much impressed by the Test captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 and appreciated the way he batted under difficult conditions during the match.
“After his brilliant run in the Test series, Misbah showed the way how to bat under pressure in demanding conditions with a gritty half century,” Qadir reiterated.
Misbah was bowled by Southee after scoring 50 runs off 88 balls. He was the highest scorer for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
Former left-handed opener Amir Sohail was also disappointed by the way batsmen batted and said that Pakistan’s preparations for the World Cup are in tatters.
“This is certainly the worst of the preparation ahead of next month’s World Cup,” he said.
The performance of Pakistan in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864 has put another question mark on Afridi’s role as the skipper of the ODI team.
According to reports, chairman Pakistan Cricket Board http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 is keeping a keen eye on Afridi and the outcome of this series is most likely to determine the future of the clobbering batsman as skipper for the World Cup.
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