Afridi needs to reunite Pakistan, experts say
Thursday, 27 May 2010
KARACHI, May 26 (AFP): Shahid Afridi's priority as Pakistan captain will not be just to win matches, but unite a set of cricketers more notorious for infighting than thrashing their opponents, experts said today.
The 30-year-old all-rounder was on Tuesday appointed to lead Pakistan in next month's Asia Cup one-day tournament in Sri Lanka and then on the tour of England-uniting the team under one captain for all formats of the game.
Pakistan's catastrophic losses in Australia and problem-prone tours of New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates exposed infighting within the team, forcing captain Younus Khan to quit and Mohammad Yousuf to be replaced.
With few choices left, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) turned to the dashing Afridi, who was last year appointed captain of the Twenty20 format only.
"Afridi has the quality to unite the team," said former Pakistan chief selector Iqbal Qasim, who resigned after the team lost all three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 in Australia earlier this year.
"But he will have to work for it."
Younus, who replaced Shoaib Malik in January, fell out with some senior players, who then took it upon themselves to oust him.
Following Pakistan's tour of Australia, the PCB banned Younus and Yousuf indefinitely over "infighting in the team", while Malik and all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were banned for one year and fined heavily.
Afridi, alongwith the Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, were also fined and put under a six-month probation.
The 30-year-old all-rounder was on Tuesday appointed to lead Pakistan in next month's Asia Cup one-day tournament in Sri Lanka and then on the tour of England-uniting the team under one captain for all formats of the game.
Pakistan's catastrophic losses in Australia and problem-prone tours of New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates exposed infighting within the team, forcing captain Younus Khan to quit and Mohammad Yousuf to be replaced.
With few choices left, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) turned to the dashing Afridi, who was last year appointed captain of the Twenty20 format only.
"Afridi has the quality to unite the team," said former Pakistan chief selector Iqbal Qasim, who resigned after the team lost all three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 in Australia earlier this year.
"But he will have to work for it."
Younus, who replaced Shoaib Malik in January, fell out with some senior players, who then took it upon themselves to oust him.
Following Pakistan's tour of Australia, the PCB banned Younus and Yousuf indefinitely over "infighting in the team", while Malik and all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were banned for one year and fined heavily.
Afridi, alongwith the Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, were also fined and put under a six-month probation.