Didn't question Tendulkar's greatness: Afridi

Just a day after claiming that he saw Sachin Tendulkar's legs trembling while facing Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan's former captain Shahid Afridi has now stated that he did not intend to question the Indian batting icon's greatness and was only talking about one incident. "I am not denying what


I have said. I have seen that Tendulkar was not at all comfortable against Shoaib in Kolkata Test in 1999. It was Shoaib's first tour of India and he bowled out Sachin without giving him a chance to open his account. He also claimed (Rahul) Dravid's wicket in both the innings," Afridi told 'PTI-Bhasha' from Karachi.
"Shoaib was in full form on that tour and had tremendous speed. He terrorised almost all the batsmen in the world at that time. I have seen Sachin trembling as I was fielding at square leg. I am still saying that.

"But this was only one incident. He never spared Shoaib after that. We all have seen what happened in 2003 World Cup," he added.

Afridi went on to state that the Indian batsman does not need his certificate.

"Sachin is one of the best batsmen and the whole world knows this. He does not need mine or anybody else's certificate. His records speak for him," Afridi said.

The controversy-prone former captain yesterday backed his Akhtar's claim that Tendulkar was uncomfortable against his pace, saying that he had once witnessed the Indian batsman "trembling" while facing the pacer.

Afridi, who retired after revolting against his own board and has a history of making controversial remarks, said Tendulkar was uneasy against Akhtar, a claim which the pacer made in his recently-launched autobiography 'Controversially Yours'.

Afridi said his remarks should not be construed as demeaning to Tendulkar.

"I am not raising any question on Sachin's greatness. Everyone knows that how many sixes Sachin has smashed on Shoaib's bowling after that. But sometimes it happens. I got out on a duck against a weak opponent like Zimbabwe in Peshawar when I was at the peak of my career," he said.

"Any batsman can go through this on a good wicket and opposite a good bowler. That was Shoaib's day and Sachin was nervous that day. Media should not read much into it as it can happen to Don Bradman as well," added the all-rounder.

Afridi said he is a huge fan of Tendulkar both on and off the field.

"I am a huge fan of Sachin. He is not only a great cricketer but a humble human being as well. I have only one photograph on the wall of my drawing room and that is of Sachin. It has Sachin's autograph on it, do I need to say more," said Afridi.

When asked if he will talk to Tendulkar to clarify his position on this issue, he said that there is no need for it.

"The whole matter is blown out of proportion by Indian media. Sachin is a great cricketer and he will understand what I am saying. I have not said anything wrong," he said.

"Media should play a positive role to reduce tension between the two neighbours. When we went to play the World Cup in India earlier this year, We saw all the negative reporting against Pakistani team. Indians love and respect us but not their media," he said.

On the possibility of his comeback in international Cricket, he said that he wants to play for another two-three years.

"Inshah Allah, I will be back in national team. I think I can play for 2-3 years. I am not going to beg for it but I know that I will represent Pakistan again," said Afridi.

Afridi to decide on comeback after a month

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who announced his retirement from international cricket soon after the World Cup to protest against the working of the Pakistan Cricket Board, says he will decide on his comeback after a month.

"There is a lot of pressure from fans and friends to come out of retirement, but I will wait for things to improve. I will take at least a month to reconsider my decision."

Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a full series in the United Arab Emirates, starting October 18.

Afridi, leading Karachi Dolphins in the ongoing National Twenty20 Cup, said he was not compromising on his form and fitness.

"I am training hard and focusing on improvement with both the bat as well as ball."

بھارتیوں کوسچ برداشت نہیں،آفریدی

کراچی : پاکستان کرکٹ ٹیم کے سابق کپتان شاہد خان آفریدی نے سابق بھارتی کپتان ساروگنگولی کے بیان پر ردعمل کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ بھارتی کھلاڑی سچ برداشت نہیں کرتے۔

’سارو گنگولی نے ہفتہ کو میڈیا کے نمائندوں سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے کہا تھا کہ شاہد خان آفریدی کاماتھا خراب ہے‘

پاکستانی ٹی وی چینل جیو نیوز سے بات کرتے ہو ئے شاہد آفریدی کا کہنا تھا کہ مجھے یاد ہے کہ چندی گڑھ میں گنگولی کے سینے پربال لگی تھی اور وہ میدان سے باہرچلاگیاتھا،اس میں کوئی شک نہیں کہ سچین ٹنڈولکر دنیا کے مانے ہوئے بیٹسمین ہیں لیکن شعیب اختر کی تیز گیندوں سے ٹنڈولکر گھبراہٹ کا شکار تھے نہ صرف وہ بلکہ راولپندی ایکسپریس نے اپنے کچھ اسپیل سے تو آسٹریلین بلے بازوں کوبھی ہلاکر رکھ دیا تھا۔

شاہدآفریدی نے مزید کہا کہ ممکن ہے کہ میں بھی کرکٹ سے ریٹائرمنٹ کے بعد کوئی کتاب تحریری کروں۔

ایک سوال کے جواب میں ان کا جواب تھاکہ آف دی فیلڈبھارتی کھلاڑیوں سے تعلقات ہمیشہ اچھے رہے ہیں،جارحانہ کرکٹ عادت ہے لیکن گراوٴنڈکی حدتک ایساہے۔

Shahid Afridi: I saw Tendulkar's legs shaking facing Shoaib Akhtar

Inzamam calls for Indo-Pak series in Sharjah

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has welcomed the return of Sharjah Cricket Stadium as a venue for Pakistan’s upcoming home series against Sri Lanka followed by England’s tour. With foreign teams reluctant to tour Pakistan over security concerns, Inzamam described Sharjah as the next best destination away from home. “It’s a great venue and if India and Pakistan matches are held here it will be of great significance. Both the communities here are vast and people will get an opportunity to witness some great cricket. They will come in big numbers.

The ground has witnessed highest number of ODIs and this would be really great for cricket. If it starts again it will be very good,” he was quoted as saying by website emirates 247.com on Thursday.
Sharjah will host a Test match after nine years and also a one-day international during Pakistan’s series against Sri Lanka which begins next month.
Inzamam called for the regularisation of India-Pakistan series because fans of both countries are keen to see their cricketers playing against each other as evidenced during the turbo-charged World Cup semifinal.
“There will be strong competition and cricket will be played at a top level. It will generate interest among the youngsters and the passion will grow and the game will also improve among the teams,” he added.
“If it does not happen in the home country, they can have in a neutral venue and people will surely come where ever it is held,” he said endorsing Sharjah as the ideal neutral venue.
Talking of schedules, he blamed an overdose of cricket for the injuries to India’s players during their disastrous tour of England although acknowledging the hosts were the better team. “Earlier there were decent gaps between matches. Players were getting sufficient rest and in a year there were only six to eight Tests and 15 to 20 ODIs.
“So this gave players enough time to recover. But now the players don’t have so much of time. So when a player is injured he does not get the proper rest required and he plays and aggravates injuries,” said Inzamam.
He also felt that players found it difficult to switch gears from Tests, one-day and Twenty20 formats of the game though not finding fault with the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). “India for the last six months have been playing only the shorter format and suddenly playing the longer version affected their temperament.
They were already under pressure and because of mounting injury list during the series it became difficult for them to win. It’s not because of IPL or anything but because of too much of cricket which increases the risk of injuries,” he said.
He also urged all-rounder Shahid Afridi to resolve his differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board and make a comeback to the sport. “He is a good player and if he comes back it’s good for the team but first the differences between him and the board have to be sorted out. It is not good when players and board fight through the media,” he said.
One-day skipper Afridi quit international cricket after being stripped of captaincy during the tour of West Indies. Coach Waqar Younis also subsequently resigned citing personal reasons.
However, Inzamam felt there was no need to appoint a foreign coach because there were so many experienced past players to choose from in Pakistan.
“I don’t think we need to search for a coach outside Pakistan. I think in Pakistan there are so many great players capable of being coach,” he said.
Inzamam said they should pick someone who has experience in all three formats of the game. “Saeed Anwar is there, Mushtaq Ahmed is coaching in England, Saqlain Mushtaq has coached in New Zealand. So we have players who have served as coaches in different countries. So the Pakistan board has to hire such players which will benefit the team,” he said.