Salman Butt tries to get even with Shahid Afridi
Spot-fixing tainted former Test captain Salman Butt has finally had a chance to get even with current ODI skipper Shahid Afridi by favouring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 for the job of ODI captaincy.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket has been in the news for the last few weeks because of a controversial decision taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to delay the naming of a captain for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2011, set to begin
from the 19th of February, jointly hosted by Indian, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747.
This month, PCB announced the names of the players included in the 15-member squad for the World Cup. However, to everyone’s amazement the board did not name the captain for the team putting the future of the current ODI skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 in doubt as
the leader of the national team in the 50-overs game.
On Sunday, Salman Butt who is currently awaiting the announcement of the verdict of his case set for 5th of the next month, raised concerns over Afridi’s ability to lead the team. “If you have a player (Afridi) who is clueless then how can he
lead the team because even if he says something to the other players no one is listening to him," Butt said.
His statements have perhaps come as a way to hit back at the skipper because before the hearing of the spot-fixing case in Doha, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Qatar-c2986 it was revealed that Afridi had expressed his doubts over the innocence of the trio. According to reports Afridi felt that
the players were worried and if they had done nothing wrong they shouldn’t have looked worried when the British police was searching their hotel rooms. “They told me that they had done nothing wrong, to which I replied: 'If you have done nothing wrong, there
is no need to feel guilty.” Afridi stated in the report.
Afridi also appeared in the spot-fixing hearing and reiterated his remarks regarding the trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, all three accused of taking bribes during the Lords Test against England in August, 2010.
This didn’t go down well with Butt and now he has struck back. Butt was critical of Afridi’s leadership in the ongoing six-match ODI series in New Zealand against the Black Caps. He believed that the team was talented and strong enough to defeat the hosts
but was being led in a wrong way by the clobbering batsman (Afridi).
While talking to the newsmen he said, “I think the present one-day team is stronger than the Test side. When you look at the few changes there are senior players coming into the ODI squad who have been playing international cricket for last 15 years. But
I think because of poor planning and weak captaincy the ODI side is struggling."
The suspended left-handed opening batsman did not stop at this and insisted that the captaincy issue should be put to rest by appointing the Misbah-ul-Haq, who led the team to Pakistan's first Test series victory after four years against any team. “Misbah
is the ideal man to lead Pakistan in the World Cup. He is a born captain and an ideal leader. The best part about him is that he is composed and leads by example," said Butt.
Misbah managed to impress many former cricketers as well as members of the PCB after this victory. Rumours have been circulating that the chairman PCB, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 also wants to appoint Haq as the skipper to take the team to the World Cup. However, legends like
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 have opposed any move to dethrone Afridi. The veterans believe that changing a captain will ultimately prove counter-productive since there will be no time for the newly appointed captain to make an appropriate game plan for the mega
event. Wasim also believed that any player who would be made captain at this time will find it very difficult to lead the team and keep his form in balance. “If the board is waiting to see how Afridi performs as captain in the one-day series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754
I don't think that is a wise move because this is not the time to change the captain. For the World Cup they must persist with Afridi," Akram said.
Perhaps this is not the right time for Salman Butt to indulge in rhetoric with Afridi because the suspended player should have better things to worry about for example his “future” regarding the outcome of the trail. Perhaps this was an attempt by Butt to
start a war of words with the under pressure ODI skipper but he needs to understand that this is not the right time to pick fights. Such things will further hurt Pakistan Cricket and serve no one.
Tags: