A good wake-up call for us: Afridi

Shahid Afridi is an uninhibited cricketer. The Pakistan captain doesn't hold back while playing his shots, while bowling his fastish leg-spinners or while egging his team-mates on for a greater effort.

After putting in another match-winning performance with the ball, his third in as many games, that enabled Pakistan to avoid embarrassment against Canada at the Premadasa on Thursday, the man of the match took aim at the non-performers in his team and fired away at his batsmen.

"It was a very poor batting performance and the shot selection was bad. We are scheduled to take on good teams in the future and we need to improve. This should be a good wake-up call for us."

Pakistan were bowled out for 184 on a sluggish pitch that helped both pacers and spinners and Canada were in the match at a 104-3. Memories of Ireland four years ago at Kingston, Jamaica, flashed through their minds and Pakistan were looking for inspiration. It came from their keyed-up skipper as Afridi destroyed the associates with a spell of 5-23.

The man, who is leading the bowling charts with 14 wickets, didn't miss the point that the batting needs urgent attention. "On this pitch, we needed batsmen who could graft a bit. It was a different kind of surface to the one we played against Sri Lanka. It was cloudy and the ball was gripping the surface. We needed someone could bide their time. But no one did."

Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have been doing the bulk of the scoring for Pakistan in this World Cup and this was an ideal time for the others to step up. Afridi admitted that it was a lost opportunity.

"I had a very good chance too. Umar Akmal also had a chance to score bigger as did Razzaq. We had enough overs to get a lot of batting practice and score enough runs to feel comfortable. But we couldn't. We need to address this issue seriously."

While the batting effort might have angered the skipper, he still was in the mood to crack a few jokes. He praised the UDRS and said he wanted more of it. "Cheez to bahut acchi hain (This is very good). Games swing because of one decision, outs become not outs and the reverse. It's a good thing. Do ke badle mein chaar kardenge to aage ke matchon ke liye accha hoga. (Instead of two, if they make it four, it will be better for the future games)."

Afridi has really worked hard on his bowling and has learnt all the nuances of a genuine leggie. When asked to analyse why he has been bowling so well of late, he said, "The conditions here are perfect for spinners. I'm also bowling wicket to wicket. Sometimes the ball will turn and at other times it will skid. It gives you a chance to get batsmen out leg-before. I try and keep things simple and bowl wicket to wicket.
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PCB appreciates Sri Lanka cricket team's willingness to tour Pakistan again

Marking the second anniversary of the deadly terrorist attack on Sri Lanka's national team, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)Thursday expressed its appreciation for Sri Lanka's willingness to tour the country again.
"We are grateful to Sri Lanka Cricket that despite the events of that day they have once again expressed a willingness to tour Pakistan," PCB Chairman, Muhammad Ijaz Butt has said.

Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Somachandra de Silva has said that they are discussing with the International Cricket Council's Pakistan Task Team (PTT) the possibility of touring Pakistan again probably in October 2011.
Paying tribute to those who were killed in the attack, Butt has said that "the considerable damage caused to Pakistan Cricket because of the attacks will take time and concerted efforts to mitigate."
On March 03, 2009 at least dozen gunmen opened fire and lobbed hand grenades at the bus carrying the Sri Lankan team to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and at the security convoy escorting the bus.
A total of eight players and team's British assistant coach, Paul Farbrace were injured in the attack, which also left six security personnel and two civilians including the driver of a convoy vehicle transporting umpires dead.
Sri Lanka cricket team captain Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Kapugedera and legendary Muttiah Muralitharan suffered injuries in the attack.
Sri Lanka agreed to tour Pakistan in 2009 after India pulled out from their tour in Pakistan following the terror attacks in Mumbai.

Afridi wants ICC to use UDRS more

Pakistan's One-day captain Shahid Afridi wants the International Cricket Council ( ICC) to consider increasing the number of Umpire decision review system (UDRS) appeals allowed to a particular team.

Unlike his Indian counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is not happy with the UDRS, Afridi said the system had worked well for most teams in the World Cup.

"The use of the UDRS is a positive development and it would not be a bad idea if its use is increased in the remaining matches of the World Cup and even after that," said Afridi in his show 'Captain's corner' on a news channel.

Afridi pointed out that the system has ensured minimum errors on the field and most teams are satisfied with it.

Pakistan benefitted immensely from the use of the UDRS system during their tight game against Canada yesterday as many of the decisions taken by on field umpires, Darrel Harper and Nigel Long, were turned down on review.

The allrounder, who has taken 14 wickets in three matches in the tournament, said while he was happy to be playing a leading role as a bowler but added that he would like to see the other bowlers fire as well.

"They have bowled well but have been unlucky. I just think I am more lucky to have got the wickets. It feels good to be taking wickets for your team.

"I am pretty confident that as the others would also start taking wickets as the tournament progressed," he said.

Afridi admitted that Pakistan still needed to bring more consistency in its performances.

"I don't think the Canadian bowlers bowled any outstanding stuff we gave away our wickets and if we want to reach the final of this tournament we need to bring consistency in all three departments of our game," he said.

Pakistan's fielding was shoddy against Sri Lanka and against Canada they came up with dismal show with the bat.

Afridi said fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had a slight groin problem and had decided to rest for the Canada game.

"We need to improve further to do well in the remaining matches, which are expected to be much tougher. I think the quarter-final will be the toughest test for the qualifying teams in this competition."

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said while he was happy that Afridi was taking wickets but he also wants others to chip in.

"I don't think we can keep on relying on one bowler to take wickets all the time. I hope in the next games the other bowlers will also step up," said Waqar
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