Shahid Afridi Supporting Misba-ul-Haq..

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Sarfraz advises Afridi, Mohsin to step down

Former Test paceman Sarfraz Nawaz has advised chief selector Mohsin Khan and Shahid Afridi to step down following in the footsteps of Sri Lankan selection committee, captain Kumar Sangakkara and vice captain Mahela Jayawardene, who resigned from their respective posts after losing the World Cup final against India.
“Accepting the defeat in the semi-final and to give a chance to the cricket board to start new planning for the next World Cup, Mohsin and Afridi should resign from their posts,” Sarfraz told Dawn.
“The Sri Lankan selectors and captain announced the resignation despite playing the final just to allow their cricket board to start planning for the next World Cup, but sorry, our selectors and captain have no courage,” he said.
He said both Sangakkara and Jayawardene batted well during the mega event but even then they have cleared the way for youngsters.
He said Afridi could be retained as captain for some time if the PCB had no other option, but adding there was no reason for Mohsin to stay.
Commenting on the announcement of the Pakistan team for T20 and one-day series against the West Indies, Sarfraz said top scorer of these formats, Imran Farhat, who scored 474 runs in the last National One-day Cup, and top fast bowler Mohammad Talha with 21 wickets were not in the team.
Sarfraz claimed that opener Ahmed Shahzad was included in the side after Afridi had threatened PCB chairman and Mohsin Khan that he would quit as captain.
“Shahzad miserably failed in the World Cup, scoring just 44 runs but he has the support of Afridi and got a place in the team,” he said.
He said the West Indies have included new players in their side to face Pakistan as it was the only way to start preparing for the next World Cup.
He said Mohsin announced the team at the pretext of giving chances to youngsters but most of them have crossed the age of 30.
He also questioned the inclusion of Misbah-ul-Haq in the team, despite his pathetic performance against India in the semi-final.
“In fact, Misbah did nothing in the end to turn the defeat into win and at times he failed to show aggression and preferred to draw matches from winning positions.
“I like to ask the chief selector for what purpose Misbah has been included in T20 and one-day teams,” he said.

Miandad is best choice for batting coach: Afridi

Following a one-one meeting with PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt, Pakistan Cricket team captain Shahid Afridi underlined that legendary batsman Javed Miandad is the best choice for batting coach.

Talking to media after meeting, Captain Shahid Afridi said team needs a batting coach and former batsman Javid Miandad is a best choice for team batting coach.

He mentioned PCB has started negotiations with Miandad in this regard. He expressed the hope that Miandad would join the team as batting coach soon. Team players would learn a lot from experience of Maindad, he added.

Shahid Afridi said he discussed team issues and changes in team for West Indies tour with Chairman. He observed two or three changes should be in team for next tour. Player’s names will be announced for West Indies tour in next two or three days, he added.

Afridi praised the former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar performance in WC. He said team won the WC matches due to best bowling of Shoaib Akhtar. He stated that team management didn’t include Shoaib Akhtar in WC other matches playing eleven as he was only 70 percent fit.

Captain Shahid Afridi cleared that no alternate of Kamran Akmal is present and Kamran will play against West Indies.

Afridi requested the Indian media to take his statement in positive meaning and play a positive role in this regard.

Pakistan’s limited-overs’ captain Shahid Afridi has made himself available for the upcoming tour of West Indies that begins on April 18. Afridi had indicated he wanted to be rested for the tour, following a hectic schedule for the Pakistan side culminating in their semi-final exit at the World Cup, but has changed his mind.

The West Indies tour includes a Twenty20, five one-dayers and two Tests, and begins on April 18, which allows the players less than three weeks of rest after their World Cup campaign.

Allow Pakistan players back into IPL: Afridi

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, has said called on the IPL to include Pakistan players with relations between the two countries steadily improving. Pakistan played India in the World Cup semi-final in Mohali, a game watched by Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Gilani on the invitation of his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, who was also present.

"It is high time the Pakistani cricketers also get a place in the IPL. For three seasons, including the current one, we haven't been a part of the IPL. We have no problems playing in India as we have just played a World Cup semi-final there," Afridi told PTI.

Players from Pakistan featured in the inaugural version of the IPL but, following the Mumbai terrorist attack in November 2008 and its diplomatic fallout, they weren't picked by any of the franchises for the subsequent two editions, and will also not be part of the tournament that starts on Friday.

"I am not saying I want to play the IPL but it could be a great platform for youngsters. They could make a mark for themselves," Afridi said.

Afridi added the inclusion of Pakistan players in the IPL was an opportunity for both countries to improve relations. "Our PM responded positively to that invitation. Now IPL can be a platform to further ease the tension," he said. "We should play more against each other. This will not only ease the pressure but will also reduce the unwanted media hype surrounded with Indo-Pak matches."

Afridi's speech won millions of hearts, says Pakistani daily

Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi 'was able to win millions of hearts across the border', a Pakistani daily said Friday, adding that his post-match speech and press conference was graceful and full of sportsman's spirit. pakistan was defeated Wednesday by India in the World Cup semifinal match held in Mohali that was witnessed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. India will now play against Sri Lanka Saturday.

An editorial in the Daily Times Friday said: 'Shahid Afridi, who rules the hearts of Pakistanis, was able to win millions of hearts across the border. His post-match speech and press conference was not just graceful and full of sportsman's spirit but his charm and wit bowled over many a heart.

'Afridi congratulated the Indian team and their nation. He did not need to do it but he also apologised to the Pakistani nation. `I want to say sorry to my nation. We tried our level best but could not make it,' said Afridi.'

It said that the match between India and Pakistan 'lived up to the cricketing hype. It was a match full of twists and turns'.

Noting that Pakistani 'fielding was perhaps the worst', it said: 'While dropping catches and misfielding is a norm for our team, dropping four catches of an ace batsman like Sachin Tendulkar perhaps cost us the match'.

'As far as the batting goes, our top and middle order failed yet again. The Indian team certainly played better cricket and thus came out as the winners of this crucial match. Their bowling was tight and they fielded extremely well.'

The editorial observed that winning or losing is part and parcel of any game.

'What mattered was the spirit in which it was played. It was heartening to see the camaraderie between the Indians and the Pakistanis - on the field by our players and off it between the spectators.'

'Despite our disappointment with the end result, it was taken in good spirit on both sides.'

It went on to say that now that the World Cup is over for Pakistan, 'we must start the process of rebuilding our cricket team in preparation for the impending revival of international cricket on our soil'.

'Manmohan Singh has given the go ahead for the Indian team to visit Pakistan for a cricket series. This would truly be a welcome initiative. Cricket is a passion that unites Pakistan. Let's bring it back to our soil!,' it added.

Imran Khan wants Shahid Afridi to lead Pakistan in Test cricket as well

Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has said that Shahid Khan Afridi should be the captain of the national team in all the three formats of the game.
Afridi announced his retirement from Test cricket during the series against Australia in England last year after Pakistan lost the first Test at Lords and he flew back home. However, the Men in Green went on to level the series in the next match under the captaincy of Salman Butt.
Imran wants Afridi to take back his retirement from the longer version of the game and lead his country in limited overs as well as Test cricket.
The legendary cricketer and one of the best all-rounders of the history of the sport feels that there should be one man leading his country in all the three formats and that is the key behind India’s success in the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2011.
He said, “There should be just one captain for all three formats of the game. The main reason for India winning the World Cup is that their captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads them in Tests, ODIs and T20 cricket."
It is notable that Pakistan has done well in Test cricket recently without their limited overs captain as they squared the series against top Test teams like Australia and South Africa last year on neutral territory and went on to beat New Zealand by 1-0 on their home soil.
Imran who led his country to the World Cup triumph back in 1992 believes that no captain can excel in cricket without playing all the formats of the game.
"Afridi must also be captain in all three formats of the sport. My belief is that unless you captain in Test cricket you can't really be at the top of your game," Imran added.
Pakistan’s limited overs captain who is known for his flamboyant style of cricket has always been rated as a specialist of the shorter format of the game, although he has played Test cricket off and on. His case for Test cricket is not strong anymore considering the recent success Misbah-ul-Haq has tasted as Pakistan’s captain in the longer version of the game.