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Shahid Afridi leading Pakistan cricket’s comeback!

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Shahid Afridi leading Pakistan cricket’s comeback!
The Pakistan cricket team is busy finalizing the squad for its upcoming assignments that include the Asia Cup in May followed by the tour to England in the month of July, where they will meet Australia before playing against the English team. A preliminary 35-man squad has been announced. The squad includes some controversial players such as Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Akhtar.

Shahid Afridi, the 30-year-old dashing all-rounder, has been appointed as the captain for the forthcoming Asia Cup and the tour to England.

The skipper said that he would not tolerate politics in the team. He said that nobody would be allowed to play dirty games inside the dressing room atmosphere. Afridi vowed to enforce strict discipline within the ranks to improve the performances on the ground.

The newly-appointed captain claimed that he is well aware of all those players who were involved in violating the code of conduct during the disastrous tour of Australia. He warned those players to be careful as this might be the last chance for them to prove their capabilities and revive their struggling careers. He said that there is no place in the team for those who disturb the atmosphere of the dressing room through dirty politics in order to become the captain of the team.

He said that the comeback of former captains Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan along with all-time controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar might disturb the atmosphere of dressing-room once gain. He made it clear that would not compromise on discipline at any cost. Afridi assured that a strong management would not let the seniors and juniors make fun of each other.

Pakistan’s legendary leg-spinner, Abdul Qadir has appreciated the inclusion of Shoaib in the national team for the upcoming Asia Cup and the English tour. The former first class cricketer cherished the selector’s decision of including the pacer in the preliminary squad.
 
Abdul Qadir, a former first-class cricketer and chief selector backed the inclusion of the Rawalpindi Express by saying that he was still a potent force in international cricket.
 
“It’s a good decision, Shoaib Akhtar is a kind of bowler who can alone win matches for his team,” said the former leg-spinner.

Afridi also believed that the addition of Younis in the squad for the England tour will benefit Pakistan due to the vast experience that he brings to the table.

At the same time, all-rounder Shahid Afridi has excused from playing the English county league. After being handed over Pakistan’s Test captaincy, he said that the chance to lead the cornered tigers in the Asia Cup and the tour to England was a big opportunity for him. As a result, he will be unable to participate as an overseas player at Hampshire.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s domestic T20 Champions Sialkot Stallions were ignored from theChampions League, scheduled to be held in South Africa in September this year. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has shown his disappointment over the decision.

"It is disappointing for us and fans in Pakistan, Stallions deserved to play in the tournament of champions," said Ijaz Butt.

Butt, however, tried to minimize the impression that he banned the team from participating in the Champions League. He rather felt that the IPL crisis may have prompted the organizers to continue with the same group of teams that were part of last year's Champions League. Pakistani players were snubbed from the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the second edition of the tournament. The scenario was similar next year when no Pakistani player was bought during an auction for the 3rd edition of IPL.

He said that the Pakistan Cricket Board does not have a policy to ban a player or team from participating in offshore events until and unless it conflicts with any international assignment.

Chairman PCB, however, said he wanted to have friendly relations with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Butt further said that he is willing to send the national team to India to improve the cricketing ties between the two rivals. Ijaz Butt said that if the BCCI is unwilling to host the Pakistani team, then the Pakistan Cricket Board is ready to play against India on neutral venues.

"We are ready to play against India on a neutral venue, what's important is that the two countries must resume the cricketing ties”, Butt said.

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