Interference is part of my job: Waqar Younis

PAkistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis said on Thursday that he did not understand Afridi’s statement about interference in team. He said that interference was part of his job. Talking to media in Lahore he said team is performing well but these kinds of conflicts disturb the performance of the team. Waqar said “differences come to surface when we work together but no one should make hue and cry”. He said that he has submitted the tour report to the PCB and further action would be taken by the board.

ک Big Bash teams want Afridi despite PCB revoking NOC

MELBOURNE: Despite PCB revoking Shahid Afridi's NOC barring him from playing in the foreign leagues, Cricket Australia officials have expressed their desire to rope in the flamboyant all-rounder for this year's Big Bash Twenty20 tournament.

After the former Pakistan captain announced his retirement from international cricket following his stand-off with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, several of the eight teams featuring in the Big Bash have shown their interest in signing Afridi, who had a successful stint in the event two years ago.

A number of other states also indicated their interest in explosive West Indian opener Chris Gayle, whose ongoing tussle with the country's cricket board following a radio interview resulted in his omission from the one-off T20 International and first two ODIs against India starting on Saturday.

Stuart Clark, general manager of the Sydney Sixers, said he would be interested in speaking to these players for his side, which is based at the SCG.

"I hadn't thought about Afridi until I heard on the radio that he had quit," Clark was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

"We would be interested depending on what he wants. If he wants to come here, I am willing to talk to him," Clark added.

Afridi suffered a setback on Thursday when English county Hampshire said it would not be playing the all-rounder in their Twenty20 league after PCB revoked the requisite NOC.

The NOC's were issued to Afridi to play for Hampshire and in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League next month.

Afridi, one of the most explosive batsmen in the world, played for South Australia in the Big Bash two years ago and impressed all.

"He was excellent and all the reports were that he was brilliant among the team," Clark said.

Afridi's fall-out with the PCB enables him to play in the Sri Lankan, English county and Australian Twenty20 competitions.

The eight sides in this season's Big Bash are likely to be allowed four contracted Australian players and four internationals, but with only two of the latter in the team at any time.

Afridi, Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga are all understood to be on the minds of the eight city-based teams. All have played in the Big Bash before.

Big Bash sides qualify for the lucrative Twenty20 Champions League.

Afridi Tribe wants Afridi back as cricket captain

Reacting to the resignation of former cricket team captain Shahid Khan Afridi from international cricket, the elders of Khyber tribal region have demanded removal of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, elders of Afridi tribe led by Haris Khan Afridi said that resignation of Shahid Afridi was against the interests of the country.
They said that PCB had failed to select players on merit as all the decisions were taken by Ijaz Butt. The PCB usually selected players on basis of personal relations for international cricket team and sidelined experienced sportsmen, which was totally unfair and in violation of procedure and criteria, they alleged.
Owing to inexperienced sportsmen, they said, cricket morale of team was declining day by day. The selection on basis of favouritism and nepotism had caused a sense of deprivation among young and talented players, they said.
They alleged that PCB chairman created disputes among players since he had resumed charge of his office. Three captains had been changed during his three-year tenure, whereas the cricket team of neighbouring India was captained by Mahindra Singh Dhoni for the last five years.
The tribal elders claimed that cricket lovers were fans of Shahid Afridi as he was an honest and experienced player, who had never indulged in match fixing and kept the team united under his captaincy.
The unity and full concentration enabled the team to face its staunch rival India in the semi-final, they added.
They said the Shahid Afridi had tendered resignation owing to pressure from Ijaz Butt otherwise he wanted to play in the team. They demanded removal of PCB chairman and rejection of Afridi`s resignation.
The tribal elders threatened to launch a protest movement if government failed to remove PCB chairman.
Meanwhile, Afridi Students` Union also staged a protest demonstration against the resignation of Mr Afridi. The protesters termed the player an asset for the team.

I never interfered in Afridi’s job, coach Waqar Younis

Pakistan cricket team’s coach, Waqar Younis on Thursday denied interfering in former captain, Shahid Afridi’s job and expressed his surprise on his statement. “As a coach I have my own domain and I know my job description and I never interfered in Afridi’s job nor in selection affairs“, he told reporters after a meeting with the Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohammad Ijaz Butt here at Gadaffi stadium. He said Afridi’s statement that coach intervened in his job comes as a surprise and he fails to understand why the former captain has stated so. “I have my own mindset and I always try to concentrate on my job and I will follow the same in future as well as long as I am the coach of the team”. Waqar said he had a positive and productive meeting with the Chairman PCB in which he submitted the tour report of West Indies and now it is upto to him (Chairman) whether to take action or not on it. He said as a coach he is also under heavy load of responsibilities as if the team performs good he gets the credit and in case of its (team’s) failure he is blamed for that. Team’s coach said Pak team players are playing cricket abroad for the past eight months and in such a situation minor differences are developed among them but they should not be made a big issue. When asked to compare the captaincy of Afridi with Misbah ul Haq, he has it was not his job to make a comparison. “Afridi was a good captain and I was satisfied with his captaincy”,he said when pressed to comment on Afridi’s captaincy.  Waqar termed team’s recent tour of West Indies a success and said it made a come back after suffering defeat in the first test before doing too good in the one day series. He said Misbah justified in the role of captain in West Indies and in Ireland. Team official had praise for young players including Junaid Khan and Azhar Ali saying they are the future of Pak cricket. He supported the idea of having a batting coach with the team adding it was the responsibility of the PCB to look into that aspect. “Even without a batting coach our batting put up fine show in the recent tours. Waqar rejected a questioner that Pak team was playing against weaker opposition. “I do not agree to it as we played against world’s best teams and now we are playing against those teams which are low in ranking but all these assignments are part of our tour programme”. He said the coming assignments of the team are a mixture of strong and weak teams as Pakistan will be playing England, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. “In present day cricket considering any opponent weak or under strength is not a fair thought”,he said adding “As a coach my responsibility is to lift the level of the team in every event and I am upto to that specific task”.

 

Big Bash teams want Afridi despite PCB revoking NOC

MELBOURNE: Despite PCB revoking Shahid Afridi's NOC barring him from playing in the foreign leagues, Cricket Australia officials have expressed their desire to rope in the flamboyant all-rounder for this year's Big Bash Twenty20 tournament.

After the former Pakistan captain announced his retirement from international cricket following his stand-off with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, several of the eight teams featuring in the Big Bash have shown their interest in signing Afridi, who had a successful stint in the event two years ago.

A number of other states also indicated their interest in explosive West Indian opener Chris Gayle, whose ongoing tussle with the country's cricket board following a radio interview resulted in his omission from the one-off T20 International and first two ODIs against India starting on Saturday.

Stuart Clark, general manager of the Sydney Sixers, said he would be interested in speaking to these players for his side, which is based at the SCG.

"I hadn't thought about Afridi until I heard on the radio that he had quit," Clark was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

"We would be interested depending on what he wants. If he wants to come here, I am willing to talk to him," Clark added.

Afridi suffered a setback on Thursday when English county Hampshire said it would not be playing the all-rounder in their Twenty20 league after PCB revoked the requisite NOC.

The NOC's were issued to Afridi to play for Hampshire and in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League next month.

Afridi, one of the most explosive batsmen in the world, played for South Australia in the Big Bash two years ago and impressed all.

"He was excellent and all the reports were that he was brilliant among the team," Clark said.

Afridi's fall-out with the PCB enables him to play in the Sri Lankan, English county and Australian Twenty20 competitions.

The eight sides in this season's Big Bash are likely to be allowed four contracted Australian players and four internationals, but with only two of the latter in the team at any time.

Afridi, Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga are all understood to be on the minds of the eight city-based teams. All have played in the Big Bash before. 

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani seeks report from Sports Minister over PCB-Afridi row

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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.

Ijaz Butt has government support to act against Afridi: Sources

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board has privately got support from the corridors of power to proceed with their disciplinary action against Shahid Afridi despite the issue slowly being politicized with the growing involvement of politicians and government functionaries.

The disgruntled Afridi has also appealed to the chief patron of the board, President Asif Zardari to intervene in cricket matters and take out time for cricket.

He has appealed to the President to save Pakistan cricket from further damage from the present board headed by Ijaz Butt. But well-informed sources told PTI that Ijaz Butt had spoken to those who matter in Islamabad and they had told him he should proceed according to the book against Afridi.

"Butt has got tacit support to do whatever he feels is right at the moment in the Afridi case," one source said.

He, however, conceded that the sports minister, Engineer Shaukatullah who hails from the tribal areas was working behind the scenes in support of Afridi and trying to move the corridors of power to remove Butt as the board Chairman.

"Shaukatullah has quietly told the media that the Prime Minister and President have asked him to submit reports on the row between Afridi and the board," the source said.

The source said even the PCB was aware of the fact that Afridi perhaps more than any other cricketer commanded lot of popularity and fan following among the masses.

"The board is expecting more backlash in the coming days from different quarters but they are firm that they are doing everything according to the rules and regulations governing the players central contracts."

He said the board was now even prepared to fight a legal battle with Afridi if he wanted.

"The e-mail he has sent to the board its language indicates it has been prepared by a legal person. But if he wants to hire a lawyer he is welcome to do so."

But while the board says it is firm in dealing with player power which it sees now in the shape of the defiance being shown by Afridi, political pressure is increasing on it to resolve the issue quickly.

"They are politicians who are not aware of what is happening in the background," one source said.

Interior minister, Rehman Malik on Thursday said he would like to see the row between Afridi and board resolved soon and he would try to get him to reverse his retirement decision and back in the team. "I am a big fan of his," said Malik.

Even the tribal elders of the Afridi clan have held a press conference demanding Afridi being given justice.

Another source in the board said that they felt let down by Afridi given the support he had got from Butt on many fronts.

"Apart from the issues that are public they are many things about him that the board choose not to make public because of its repercussions on Pakistan cricket. He should have shown more patience."

But a source close to Afridi said that the board ignore that he had also learnt about his being sacked as captain through the media.

"He is hurt because while he accepts the board Chairman has supported him but feels this gives Butt no right to ride roughshod over senior players and treat them unjustly."

"Even if Butt wanted to remove him as captain he should have had the decency to speak to Afridi about it as he had done a lot of hardwork with the team that was being undermined by the interference by the coach and manager and other elements."

"Afridi is now ready to all the consequences of his action but is confident that the power of the people will prevail and Butt will be forced to back down," the source said.

Hamsphire urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reverse their ban on Afridi

Hampshire ask PCB for Afridi re-think

 

LONDON: Hamsphire urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reverse their ban on former captain Shahid Afridi playing abroad as they began the defence of their English Twenty20 title without the all-rounder.

Former Pakistan one-day captain Afridi had his central contract suspended by the PCB on Tuesday, having announced his retirement from international cricket.

That move came after the 31-year-old was stripped of the Pakistan one-day captaincy last month following a spat with coach Waqar Younis.

The PCB has also revoked all no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the player, meaning a "disappointed" Afridi, widely praised for his role in leading Pakistan to the semi-finals of the recent World Cup in the subcontinent, will not be officially permitted to play overseas.

"It is with regret that Hampshire Cricket announces that Shahid Afridi - the Royals' overseas signing for the Friends Life t20 competition -- will not be available to play in tonight's match against the Somerset Sabres at The Rose Bowl," said a Hampshire statement on Wednesday.

"It follows the decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board to revoke their No Objection Certificate, thus withdrawing their consent for Shahid to take part in the competition.

"The club would like to make it clear that although we respect this decision we have been, and continue to, urge the PCB to rethink this matter, and we are keen to have Shahid playing for the Royals at some point in the season.

"Hampshire Cricket will be making no further comment on this issue at this time."

The southern club later made light of Afridi's absence to beat Somerset by seven wickets in a repeat of last year's final.

Afridi, a hugely popular big-hitting all-rounder, whose leg-spin has become arguably even more important than his batting, had also been due to play in the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League in July.

He had said he would not play under the current PCB set-up, headed by chairman Ijaz Butt, and accused the administration of mistreating the players.

He also lashed out at Waqar for undue meddling in team selection.

"Everyone should do his job and must be held accountable for that," Afridi said, without naming anyone, on his return from the West Indies where he led the team to a 3-2 one-day series victory last month.

When asked about his dispute with Waqar, Afridi replied: "The differences are not at a stage where they cannot be solved."

Afridi withdrew from Pakistan's latest matches, a one-day series against Ireland which finished in a 2-0 win on Monday, to visit his ailing father in the United States.

 

Afridi, retirement is not the answer

I share the sentiments of all those people who fanatically worship Shahid Afridi for the performer he is in the world of cricket. I, being an avid follower of the sport, have always believed that Afridi is a match-winning player who could give a pounding to the best bowlers of the world and baffle the most stringent batting line-up with his variation of spin, arm-balls and googlies.

Afridi honestly earned every ounce of our respect after he steered the Pakistan cricket team to propel them into the semi-final of the World Cup with India. Much to our distaste, he did not seize the prospect to down the arch-rivals and bring the trophy home but came back home standing tall and proud for his achievements and gave us something to cheer about.

However, as charismatic as Afridi is, he has not matured over his fourteen-years-long career into the cricketer most people would like him to be – he is as reckless and uncontrolled as the fire cracker he was when he was sixteen. One would think that it was about time he grew up.

Afridi has been a loyal and sincere player throughout his career but has always been a victim of severe criticism from his seniors. Wasim Akram, under whom Afridi began his flourishing line of business, always said that he could never comply with strategies. He would complain that every time Afridi was sent out to bat, he would tell him to take his time on the pitch, follow the game plan and then try to score runs – but Afridi never listened. He would lash out at every ball, in the hope of making contact and in most cases threw his wicket away in the process.

Afridi announced his retirement from international cricket claiming that he would not play for Pakistan under the current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) setup and hinted at the present dissection of the sport due to a Punjab lobby being established against the Karachi players. Whether true or not, I wish Afridi would come forward and enlighten his followers about the matter instead of vexing their loyalties by making slapdash comments to the media.

I would have expected Afridi to put all the politics aside and emerge as the bigger person under the gruesome state of affairs. I thought there was a true leader in him just as there was in Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. I hoped that he would continue to storm the nation with his feats after being mentored by Wasim just as Wasim had done when Imran guided him. I imagined Afridi to retire like Shoaib Akhtar, with tears of love for the game in his eyes, and not the detestation that he portrayed.

Still, for people like Afridi, our public is programmed to conveniently forget all those dreadful expositions he enacted on and off the field and instead cherish the few good memories he has given us. On behalf of his stanch cohorts, I urge Afridi to reconsider his statements, put his ego aside and serve the team regardless of his discrepancies with the PCB. This is too sour a note for a talent like him to withdraw

Afridi admits violating PCB code

Shahid Afridi has replied to the PCB's showcause notice and accepted that he has violated the code of conduct, further stating his willingness to face whatever disciplinary action will come his way.

"We have received Shahid Afridi's reply and he has accepted violation of the code of conduct," Nadeem Sarwar, the PCB media manager, told ESPNcricinfo. It is believed that while accepting the breaches in the reply, Afridi explained the cause of his actions and specifically, going to the media and announcing his retirement. Afridi is said to have been upset about learning of his removal from the ODI captaincy through media reports and so responded by going to the media first himself.

ESPNcricinfo also understands Afridi has expressed a desire that his situation with Hampshire be resolved. Afridi was due to play for the county in the Friends Life t20 but the PCB revoked his No-Objection Certificate leading to, for the moment, a suspension of his registration as an overseas player by the ECB. The ECB and PCB have been in touch through a busy day, and sources close to Afridi say there is a possibility the deal could still go ahead if the boards come to a resolution, though PCB officials insist it will not be as straightforward.

As far as the reply is concerned, the board's legal advisor will now be consulted over its contents before a way forward emerges. Though the advisor, Taffazul Rizvi, has not yet received the letter, he said the act of the response and acceptance doesn't condone the breach itself. "When you accept or own an act, that is tantamount to a mitigating circumstance for a disciplinary tribunal while passing a judgment," he told ESPNcricinfo. Essentially, the disciplinary process will now be carried out to its legal and logical end, which could mean the board appointing an inquiry officer to investigate the matter further.

On Thursday, in any case, the board will officially begin to look into the root cause of the whole affair: Afridi's spat with coach Waqar Younis. Board officials will meet Waqar first and discuss issues arising from the management report of the tour to the Caribbean. It was during the ODIs that Afridi and Waqar clashed over selection, one dressing room dispute in particular that officials are concerned about, which was leaked out to the media. Intikhab Alam, the team manager who tried to mediate between the two on tour, will also be interviewed. Once that is out of the way, the Afridi issue will come back on the agenda, presumably with more background information in the bag.

Beyond that the picture remains unclear. Afridi has stressed his retirement is conditional and not permanent, though earlier today he said again that he would not play under this administration. One senior board official told ESPNcricinfo that they still considered Afridi an asset to the national side but insisted that he go through the entire disciplinary procedure for a list of breaches and be punished if necessary.