The true Captains of the ICC World Cup 2011 – Part 4
The world was watching as for the first time in history, a http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, under whose guidance the Men in
Green looked to finally beat the Indian side in a World Cup match.
The match turned out to be a test of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556, India’s legendary batsman was dropped one more
than one occasion. As a matter of fact, Tendulkar saw himself get off the hook a total of four times when it came to dropped catches. Missing opportunities like that would have had most people in a rage; Afridi though, was as cool as a cucumber.
When Tendulkar was dropped for the first time at 28 runs, off of Afridi’s own bowling, the Pakistan captain smiled and gave Tendulkar a http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Iftikhar-Ali-Khan-Pataudi-Nawab-of-c64075 on the back. The gesture though had a serious message and it showed his side that he was still calm, and in turn inspired
the same feeling in his team.
The second time Tendulkar was dropped by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Younis-Khan-c98325 at 45 runs, Afridi somehow managed to keep his frustration to a minimum. Again his body language showing composure that spread to his team.
When Akmal missed a difficult opportunity to catch Tendulkar for the third time for 70 runs, the captain, in what can only be described as a miracle, maintained his cool. It was not from a lack of passion but as he said himself later on, Afridi did it so
that his team follows his example and does not end up panicking.
In the end the Pakistan captain showed everyone just how to hold on to a catch when Tendulkar hit it straight at him. It was a practical demonstration of the term that if one wants something done right, they must do it themselves.
It was fitting because he succeeded where the rest of his team had failed, one of the traits of a leader. His ability to suppress his own frustrations for the sake of the team are to be commended as it showed much more maturity than most have come to expect
from Shahid Afridi.
That match was to be his last in the 2011 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in an entertaining match at Mohali. Yet, the Pakistan team had achieved a lot in just getting to that stage.
Shahid Afridi had led a team that few had given any hope and galvanised them into a top four team in a tournament with the best 14 teams in the world. The political and security situation in their home country was unstable and add in all the scandal and
controversy cricket in Pakistan had been through, a semi-final finish is a monumental feat.
The Pakistan Captain had inspired a team of underperformers and brought the best out of the youngsters in the side as he upset all the odds and took the Men in Green to their highest finish since the 1999 World Cup in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013.
Another part every captain must be apt at is the handling of press conferences. Whether Shahid Afridi had been taking classes or the Pakistan captain was demonstrating the sober side of himself, he handled the trickiest of press meetings with ease and charm.
[Continued in ‘The true Captains of the World Cup – Part 5’]
Tags: