Afridi unhappy with ICC ranking system

Shahid Afridi makes an unsuccessful LBW appeal on Carlton Baugh in Gros Islet, St. Lucia..Dawn News

BRIDGETOWN: Pakistan`s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi on Thursday said that he is not satisfied with the one-day rankings system, presently applied by the ICC.

His unhappiness stems from the recent announcement by the ICC that even if Pakistan, which lead the five-match ODI series 2-0 against the West Indies, manage to whitewash the series, it will not earn them a single rating point and they will still be placed at their current ranked sixth position.

“I can`t understand this system. There should be some advantage for the visiting sides as winning a series is never easy for them no matter who they`re playing against,” Afridi told a newspaper from Bridgetown.

Afridi questioned the system that offers little reward against lower-ranked opponents. Even a 4-1 or 3-2 win against the ninth-placed West Indies means a drop in points for Pakistan since they are expected to beat the hosts. “It`s really difficult to prosper under the current ranking system. I have little clue what it is based on,” Afridi said.

Afridi, however, said that despite the disappointment over the ratings system, his team remained focused on winning the series against the West Indies. “We`ll give our best to seal the series, which is our main focus. It will boost the morale of the young team.”

Pakistan team leaves for West Indies tour

 Shahid Afridi will captain Pakistan in the limited over format while Misbah-Ul-Haq will lead the test squad. – File Photo Dawn.com

LAHORE: The Pakistan cricket team on Thursday departed for their tour to the West Indies, according to DawnNews.

Team Manager Intikhab Alam said he was hopeful that the young players included in the squad would prove their merit during this tour.

Shahid Afridi will captain Pakistan in the limited over format while Misbah-Ul-Haq will lead the test squad. Pakistan will play a warm-up match on April 18, while the tour formally starts from the April 21.

Meanwhile, West Indian selectors also on Thursday unveiled a thirteen-member squad for the first two ODIs against Pakistan.

The men from the Caribbean will play a five-match ODI series, in addition to one Twenty20, and two test matches against Pakistan scheduled to start from 21st April, 2011 in St.Lucia.

The Chairman of the West Indian selection panel, Clyde Butts stated that the core of the team is capable of serving for years to come.

According to him, the fresh blood inducted in the squad has the potential and the desire to succeed, and hence received the nod.

Butts added that the time was rife for making wholesome changes as the West Indians vowed to regain their lost glory at the highest level of the game.

‘We are united; don’t blame Misbah’

Shahid Afridi was given a heroes' welcome upon his return from India after the World Cup. —Photo by AFP   Dawn News Updates

KARACHI: The Pakistan cricket team was accorded a warm welcome by its fans as they returned home early Friday.
After returning to heroes’ welcome, captain Shahid Afridi said he wanted to thank the nation for giving the team unwavering support during the World Cup 2011.
Afridi, Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq touched down in Karachi, while the rest of the players and officials flew to Lahore where the Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman were present to welcome them.
The team left Mumbai late Thursday, and arrived in Karachi in the early hours of Friday via Dubai.
Despite losing to arch-rivals India in the semi-finals, Afridi was greeted at the airport by a large number of hollering fans who chanted “Boom Boom Afridi we love you” and cries of “Pakistan team has done us proud,” and waved the Pakistani flag.
However, after all their exploits in the tournament, Afridi wanted a break.
Batting needs improvement
“To lose the semi-final was disappointing but I think now the time has come for senior players to be rested and new players to be tried out,” he said.
With two Pakistani bowlers in tournament’s highest wicket takers’ list, and Afridi as the leading wicket taker so far, the all-rounder praised his team’s bowlers but said the batting needed improvement. He underlined the need of a batting coach for the team, none of whose batsmen feature in the top ten run-getters’ list despite reaching the semi-finals.
However, Afridi refused to blame Misbah-ul-Haq, who came under heavy criticism from all quarters, for the 29-run loss.
“Misbah wanted to take the game closer to the end and then go for the big shots, which wasn’t a wrong strategy,” the captain said of his deputy.
United we fall
Members of the Pakistan squad, according to the captain, remains very supportive of each other and the defeat did not damage the unity.
“The great support shown by the nation has really held us together after the loss,” Afridi told reporters.
Interior minister’s statement mistimed
Afridi said he was disappointed to hear Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement on match-fixing, which was ‘mistimed’ and ‘appropriate’ given the pressure the team was under.
“The interior minister called me a few times before the match and I ensured him that the team is wholly committed to the cause of winning.”
Lahori love
Emotional scenes were also witnessed at Lahore airport where dozens of fans mobbed the players while others danced around.
“The team has done the nation proud by defeating stronger rivals to reach this semi-final. I hope they continue to perform like this and bring more laurels for the country,” Sharif said.
He announced a grand reception for the players on April 5 to celebrate their performance in the World Cup.

Afridi backs underfire Akmals

Up Dated By Dawn

 Canada's Ruvindu Gunasekera walks off as New Zealand's cricket team celebrate his dismissal. -Reuters Photo

PALLEKELE: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said Sunday that struggling wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and his younger brother Umar would both will play against Zimbabwe on Monday.

There has been confusion over the Akmal brothers ever since the 110-run defeat against New Zealand last week, with elder brother Kamran spilling two crucial chances to dismiss century-maker Ross Taylor.Pakistan considered using Umar Akmal, Kamran’s younger brother, as a makeshift keeper but abandoned those plans after he suffered a finger injury.There were reports in Pakistani media that Umar had feigned injury to help Kamran keep his place, speculation denied by team management.

On Sunday Umar sprained his right ankle while playing football but Afridi confirmed the injury was not serious.“He (Umar) is fit, it is a light injury. He fielded today and looked better, so definitely he will play tomorrow,” said Afridi of Umar, who also took part in light practice.Afridi admitted there was no better option than going back to Kamran as wicket-keeper.

“Kamran’s performance in batting hasn’t been bad but, yes, he is struggling with his keeping. He is working very hard, and we haven’t got such an option in the squad to whom we can give a chance in this tournament.“Kamran has been working hard for four days. He has support and our confidence, he seems a better choice. I think he knows the mistakes he has committed and he will try to cover it for sure and will perform,” said Afridi.Afridi said there were no negative thoughts in the dressing room.

“We are just focusing on day by day and game by game and if we win against Zimbabwe the dressing room atmosphere will be better and positive. A win always gives you confidence,” said Afridi.The skipper said he hoped his batsmen, especially the top order, did not repeat the mistakes they made in the match against New Zealand.

“At the moment our plan is not to lose wickets and be positive. I have already told them to play to your strengths, like you play in domestic cricket, play like that.“Over the last couple of days the openers have worked really hard and the coaches have worked hard with them as well. The results will hopefully come and realising the importance of the match I am confident that they will perform,” said Afridi.A win for Pakistan, with six points from four matches, would take them through to the quarter-finals.