Selector Iqbal Qasim Apprehensive about Shahid Afridi’s Captaincy
Well, it seems as if Shahid Afridi has hit a purple patch once again. He has been announced as the captain for the upcoming tours of the Pakistan cricket team. He will be leading the team for the Asia Cup as well as for the tour of England, where the team will play a series of Test, one-day and T20 matches against Australia as well.
The announcement was made by the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Ejaz Butt in Lahore, on Tuesday. Afridi now stands as the country's third test captain in only the last fifteen months after the suspension of Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf for an indefinite period by the PCB. They were charged for infighting in the team which had a trickle down effect on the entire team’s performance. Younis Khan has appealed against the charges whereas Yousuf announced his retirement from international cricket after the imposition of the ban.
Afridi told that he tried to convince Muhammad Yousuf to reconsider his retirement some two days back. Yousuf seemed content with his decision and did not want to rejoin the team as he is coaching in Canada at the moment.
While talking about the PCB’s decision, Afridi said that he had taken up this decision as a challenge for himself because he felt that Pakistan is going through some of the toughest times in its history. He said that it was time that the senior players bring forth their experience and guidance. The all-rounder from the Khyber Agency also said that the team needs unity and team spirit. He thinks that if the team would play as a unit, there was no reason why good results could not be produced.
Former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmad commented on the decision by saying that the nation should offer full support and gratitude to Shahid Afridi. He said that Afridi had agreed to lead the side at a time when the task is really tough and challenging, owing to all the issues surrounding Pakistani Cricket. There were not many options for Pakistan due to match-fixing allegations against most of the senior players. He appreciated Afridi’s acceptance by saying that he did this only for the nation as he had not played test cricket since the last four years. Salahuddin expressed his confidence in the enthusiastic player saying that Afridi is surely capable of rejoining the test arena.
Former chief selector, Abdul Qadir also appreciated the PCB’s decision and seemed hopeful from the team as it heads towards the upcoming series.
Another chief selector Iqbal Qasim however seemed apprehensive as he said that Afridi would need to tell the correctness of the decision from his performance. He added that to raise the team’s morale, Afridi’s performance has to be exemplary. He remarked that playing test cricket is a whole different thing and that Afridi would have to adjust his performance accordingly.
However, he appreciated the fact that the board had finally decided to stick to one captain for all three formats of the game which would cut down a number of controversies. Qasim disappointedly said that the national sport was crumbling at such a critical time when the World Cup is only a few months away.
He concluded that Afridi, at this time needs the support from not only the PCB and his team-mates but the entire nation and the media must extend their support and cooperation to him as well. Although the series against England and Australia in Britain is going to produce some quality cricket, it is Afridi who will undergo the toughest test. After a gap of many years, Afridi will try to seek revenge from the Australian’s for the defeat in the semi-finals in the recently concluded T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. Only time will tell if Pakistan can take its revenge in the upcoming Test series. Otherwise, the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent will give an opportunity to Saeed Ajmal to bowl at Michael Hussey once again. What ever the case may be, Pakistan, Australia and England have a lot of fight to do this summer.
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