Shahid Afridi raring for another Hampshire stint next summer – Cricket News Update
Pakistan’s former One-Day skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sahibzada-Mohammad-Shahid-Khan-Afridi-c87933, has expressed his desire to play for the English County side, Hampshire, next summer as well, after retaining his splendid form in the ongoing season.
Afridi, who has become an indispensable member of the side after performing exceptionally well in the Friends Life T20, said, “Definitely, I would love to, it’s up to the chairman (Rod Bransgrove) and the crowd. If they want to see me then maybe I’ll come back. I’m enjoying myself, but the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Main-c73911 thing is performance and trying my level best to perform as best as I can.”
Talking about his experience playing for Hampshire, the 31-year-old admitted that it was fun working with the guys and team was a well knitted outfit.
“There’s a nice atmosphere, people are very http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dominic-Cork-c1390 is doing well and we’re really backing each other,” said Afridi.
The all-rounder, who exhibited some astounding performances for his County side, especially while bowling, had to abruptly return back home because of his father’s illness which means that he will miss the final group match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Middlesex-c817, scheduled to be played on Friday, July 15, 2011.
Nonetheless, it is expected that the flamboyant cricketer will return early next month to play in the last-eight clash.
The all-rounder has taken 14 wickets in his eight outings for the Royals, where he also helped his side reach the quarter-final stage of the T20 tournament.
Afridi, who retired from international cricket on May 31, 2011, after experiencing a turbulent relationship with the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management, has opted to play more County cricket and hopes to become a member of Hampshire in their One Day tournaments as well.
Earlier, in June this year, things took an ugly turn when the PCB terminated the cricketer’s central contract and revoked his No Objection Certificate (NOC), barring him from playing County cricket.
However, the all-rounder refusing to back down, decided to pursue legal action against the PCB to redeem his NOC.
Apparently, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 was intimidated by Afridi’s comments regarding the mismanagement within the cricket board under Butt’s chairmanship.
It was only because of political intervention, right at the last moment, by the interior minister of Pakistan, Rehman Malik, that actually resolved the dispute, convincing Afridi to appear before a disciplinary committee which imposed a fine of 4.5 million rupees on the player for violating PCB’s code of conduct regarding giving statements to media without informing the country’s cricket governing body.
Later however, the Board provided the NOC to the former skipper, making it possible for him to play for Hampshire.
Tags: