Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani seeks report from Sports Minister over PCB-Afridi row
Shahid Afridi’s shocking retirement followed by his media outburst against Ijaz Butt and his regime has raised several eyebrows at the highest levels. The sports minister of Pakistan has been asked by the Prime Minister’s office to submit an independent report over the issue within a week.
A federal official on Thursday, June 02, 2011, told reporters that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, has sought an independent update from the sports ministry over the recent row between the former skipper and the board.
“The sports minister was contacted by the office of the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani besides after a request of Afridi to the office of the Patron, who happens to be President Asif Ali Zardari, a similar direction has also been given to Shaukatullah,” revealed the federal official.
The flamboyant all-rounder announced retirement from all cricket on Monday, citing his differences with the board which have reached such a stage that he cannot continue under the current PCB management.
Yesterday, Afridi also requested the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, who is also Patron in Chief of Pakistan cricket, to look into the devastating situation which prevails in the national game for the sake of the sport’s future in the country.
Afridi’s squabble with the board and team management started during Pakistan’s recently concluded tour of West Indies where he had been at loggerheads with the head coach, Waqar Younis, over selection matters.
Afridi on his return home, told the media that his relations with the coach had reached such a stage that he was deliberating over missing the last two ODIs of the five-match series that Pakistan won by 3-2.
The board not only issued Afridi a show cause notice on those media statements but also sacked him from captaincy for the two-match One Day International series against Ireland, in favour of the Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
Afridi pulled out of the series citing his father’s illness and later announced retirement from cricket, however, he did say that he can take his decision back if his fans wanted him to play.
Afridi also held Butt and his poor management responsible for his retirement decision.
The latest media outburst of Afridi against Ijaz Butt also cost him his central contract besides termination of his NOC.
Shahid Afridi’s shocking retirement followed by his media outburst against Ijaz Butt and his regime has raised several eyebrows at the highest levels. The sports minister of Pakistan has been asked by the Prime Minister’s office to submit an independent report over the issue within a week.
A federal official on Thursday, June 02, 2011, told reporters that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, has sought an independent update from the sports ministry over the recent row between the former skipper and the board.
“The sports minister was contacted by the office of the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani besides after a request of Afridi to the office of the Patron, who happens to be President Asif Ali Zardari, a similar direction has also been given to Shaukatullah,” revealed the federal official.
The flamboyant all-rounder announced retirement from all cricket on Monday, citing his differences with the board which have reached such a stage that he cannot continue under the current PCB management.
Yesterday, Afridi also requested the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, who is also Patron in Chief of Pakistan cricket, to look into the devastating situation which prevails in the national game for the sake of the sport’s future in the country.
Afridi’s squabble with the board and team management started during Pakistan’s recently concluded tour of West Indies where he had been at loggerheads with the head coach, Waqar Younis, over selection matters.
Afridi on his return home, told the media that his relations with the coach had reached such a stage that he was deliberating over missing the last two ODIs of the five-match series that Pakistan won by 3-2.
The board not only issued Afridi a show cause notice on those media statements but also sacked him from captaincy for the two-match One Day International series against Ireland, in favour of the Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
Afridi pulled out of the series citing his father’s illness and later announced retirement from cricket, however, he did say that he can take his decision back if his fans wanted him to play.
Afridi also held Butt and his poor management responsible for his retirement decision.
The latest media outburst of Afridi against Ijaz Butt also cost him his central contract besides termination of his NOC.
