Is Shahid Afridi the Best Choice to Lead Pakistan in the World Cup?

After Shahid Afridi’s amazing whirlwind beauty of an innings against New Zealand today, I am feeling more upbeat on Shahid Afridi than ever. Rumour has it that others are too and he may be finally named as Pakistan’s team captain for the 2011 ICC World Cup Cricket.

With 22 days left to the tournament, every other team except Pakistan has announced their captain. Not a distinction that one would want. So, the sooner we name a captain, the better. More than anyone else, the team needs to know so that they can wrap their mind around the idea of whoever it is.

Shahid Afridi 65 Runs Of 25 Balls Vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI

PCB claims Aamir had played unoffical match

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reached the conclusion that suspended fast-bowler Mohammad Amir was playing in an unofficial match and hence he did not violate the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code of conduct.

Amir, along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, has been barred from all cricket activities until a decision on the spot-fixing case is reached.

“The match that Amir bowled in was an unofficial match between two clubs that are not registered with the Rawalpindi Cricket Association,” said the PCB in a statement. “It was also found that no PCB official was present at the venue when the player took part in the game.”

The PCB also confirmed that the team sheets prepared prior to the match did not contain Amir’s name nor was his name listed with any side participating in the tournament. “This game was not part of any official tournament. The PCB has again advised all regional bodies to ensure strict compliance of the ICC directives regarding the three suspended players.”

“It was merely a practice match against a so called Army XI side which has some randomly picked players who were present there at the Pindi Stadium,” Rawalpindi head coach Sabhi Azhar told The Express Tribune. “I wasn’t even present there and when I reached Amir wasn’t there and had returned after bowling some four overs.”

The ICC had written to the PCB asking for details as to why Amir appeared in a friendly club match in Rawalpindi on Monday.