Afridi returns home hoping for ‘justice’

Former Pakistani cricket captain Shahid Afridi greets supporters upon his return to Karachi, on June 5, 2011. Thousands of cheering fans greeted Afridi as he returned home on June 5, hoping to “get justice” in his battle with the country's cricket authorities. – Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Thousands of cheering fans greeted former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi as he returned home on Sunday hoping to “get justice” in his battle with the country’s cricket authorities.

The 31-year-old’s attempts to join Hampshire for the English Twenty20 season were halted when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revoked his permission to play following his decision to retire from international cricket last week.

Around 3,000 fans gathered at Karachi’s international airport in support of the all-rounder, chanting slogans against the PCB and its chairman Ijaz Butt.

“I will decide on my future course of action on Monday after consulting my lawyers and hope to get justice,” Afridi told AFP.

Afridi took the abrupt decision to retire in protest after he was replaced as Pakistan’s one-day captain last month despite leading the side to the World Cup semi-final earlier this year.

In a situation that will be all too familiar to Pakistan fans, differences had developed between Afridi and coach Waqar Younis, prompting the all-rounder to make his grievances public — which led to the PCB replacing him.

In announcing his retirement, Afridi accused the PCB of mistreating him and vowed not to play under the current set-up of the board, headed by Butt.

The PCB responded by suspending Afridi’s contract and revoking the so-called “No-Objection Certificate” that would have allowed him to play for Hampshire in the Twenty20 tournament.

The board also convened a three-man disciplinary committee to deal the case and ordered Afridi to appear before it on June 8.

Afridi said he was never bothered about the captaincy.

“It’s not a matter of being replaced as captain, it’s a matter of honour,” he said.

“A lot of other players also feel they were mistreated but they cannot go public fearing for dire consequences.” Since announcing his retirement Afridi has received political support, with opposition Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, an ally of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, vowing to support him.

The PCB said it was concerned that Afridi’s case had turned into a political issue.

“PCB notes with great concern that an internal disciplinary action against Afridi is being converted into a political issue. A number of political functionaries are interfering in what is essentially an internal disciplinary matter of the PCB,” a statement from the Board said Sunday.

“PCB has been criticised for being ineffective in the past in the context of discipline. It would now appear an attempt by some forces to prevent the Board from implementing the code of conduct and their act may well damage Pakistan cricket,” the statement said.

Afridi calls in lawyers for county permission

 

Afridi has asked the PCB for permission to play for Hampshire county. -AFP Photo

KARACHI: Dumped captain Shahid Afridi has called in the lawyers in a bid to secure Pakistani permission to play county cricket in England that was denied amid a public slanging match, an official said on Friday.

“We have received a letter from legal firm Mandviwalla and Zafar Associates on behalf of Afridi and as per the rules we forwarded it to the disciplinary committee,” said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar.

Sources close to Afridi said the letter was not a legal notice as such but sought permission for him to play county cricket.

The PCB revoked all No-Objection Certificates issued to Afridi to play abroad, stopping him from playing for Hampshire in the Twenty20 league in England.

The PCB also suspended his central contract and salary, asking Afridi to appear before a three-man disciplinary committee on June 8.

Afridi was punished for violating the players’ code of conduct in announcing his retirement from international cricket and levelling allegations of mistreatment at the PCB.

He had been sacked as one-day captain last month after publicly criticising coach Waqar Younis for allegedly inappropriate meddling in team selection.

Afridi has since confessed to breaching the code of conduct and the letter on Friday outlined his contributions during his 15-year career.

“Afridi is a national hero and has been revered throughout his career, which started as a 16-year-old boy,” said a copy of the letter seen by AFP.

“It was in recognition of his services that Afridi was made captain of the team last year and he guided Pakistan to the World Cup 2011 semi-final,” said the letter.

“Revoking all his NOCs is an attempt to restrain him from financial gains. Afridi should be allowed to play county cricket,” it added.

Afridi has also received political support from Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sports Minister Shaukatullah Khan promising to help.

Local media reports said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have asked the sports ministry to submit an independent report on the affair.

Pakistan eye history in Test series against West Indies

PROVIDENCE: Pakistan are looking to become the latest international side to create history on Caribbean soil, when they begin their search for a maiden Test series victory against West Indies, starting on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium.

On six previous visits, starting back in 1958, the Pakistanis have come awfully close, but they have failed each time.

The visitors share the unenviable record of being one of the two Test-playing nations not to hold a Test series victory in the Caribbean along with Sri Lanka.

Pakistan have won just four of the 21 Tests they have played in the Caribbean, but there is huge optimism that Misbah-ul-Haq's side, brimming with confidence having won the preceding One-day International series 3-2, can put this little matter to rest.

The Pakistanis have far fewer concerns about their line-up than their opponents. Though they have lost former captain Younis Khan to a family bereavement, there are strong signs that the batting still has backbone with the likes of Misbah, Mohammad Hafeez, and Umar Akmal.

The visitors' bowling has been boosted with the arrival of Umar Gul, whose fast bowling will give the attack a greater edge, but the spin bowling of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, as well as Hafeez could prove decisive against typically leaden-footed West Indies batsmen.

All of this means that West Indies will have their hands full trying to protect their cherished record at home against the visitors - and the internal turmoil that has bedevilled the side will not make things any easier.

The Windies have not won a Test series, let alone a Test, in just over two years, and it would require an amazing performance, or an incredible change of fortune for them to turn the tide against Pakistan.

The hosts trimmed their squad to 13 following a warm-up match over the weekend, and predictably, fast bowler Fidel Edwards has been recalled following a two-year absence, and veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul has also been included.

Edwards was sidelined by a career-threatening back injury that required surgery, and returned to serious competitive action this year, taking 22 wickets for his native Barbados in the WICB Regional first-class championship.

He has not played a Test since the ill-starred tour of England two years ago, and is playing his first international match since the World Twenty20 Championship later that same year.

Chanderpaul has been embroiled in a public war of words with the West Indies Cricket Board, following his exclusion from the ODI series, which he claimed followed his refusal to retire from that form of the game.

The durable left-hander will have a major challenge though. He roundly criticised West Indies coach Ottis Gibson for interfering with his approach to batting, so the relationship between the two will be closely monitored.

Australia-born left-hander Brendan Nash, the vice captain, has also been included.

He has been pigeon-holed as a player for the longer format of the game, and has not played an international match since the weather-ravaged Test series in Sri Lanka last year.

The return of Marlon Samuels to Tests for the first time in three years, following a two-year international ban for inappropriate contact with an alleged Indian bookie, will also be closely followed.

He warmed-up for the task with a double hundred in the practice match over the weekend, but his batting during the ODIs seemed to betray him.

Since the ground opened four years ago just ahead of the 2007 World Cup, the pitch plays typically slow and low, but Sri Lanka, batting first, piled-up a big first innings total, and pressured West Indies for the remainder of the only Test that has been played here, resulting in a 121-run victory.

As always, the match will be contested with one eye on the skies due to Guyana's famously fickle weather, with a 60 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms predicted in the long-range weather forecast.

Squads:
West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (captain), Brendan Nash (vice captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlton Baugh Jr, Darren Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith

Pakistan: (from): Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Abdur Rehman, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Hammad Azam , Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Salman, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmed, Taufiq Umar, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan.

Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Tony Hill (NZL)
TV Umpire: Asoka De Silva (SRI)
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

PCB to take action against Afridi over Waqar comments

 Local media last week reported that serious differences had emerged between Afridi and Waqar during this year's World Cup. -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday demanded Shahid Afridi explain why he criticised coach Waqar Younis, saying the one-day captain had violated the code of conduct.

Afridi criticised Younis for interfering in team selection during the 3-2 one-day series win over the West Indies.

“Waqar interferes with the team selection and everyone should do his job,”Afridi said on his return from the West Indies Sunday.

“PCB has taken notice of the statements made by Afridi in the media about the differences within the tour management in West Indies. It is a violation of code of conduct on part of Afridi,” the PCB said.

“An explanation has been sought from him for the reasons to make such statements publicly. PCB will take appropriate action after submission of the tour-report at the conclusion of the tour.”

Pakistani media last week reported that serious differences had emerged between Afridi and Waqar during this year’s World Cup.

Pakistan reached the semi-finals in the tournament, jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, before being beaten by India who went on to win the championship.

I don’t have temperament to play Test cricket: Afridi

Shahid Afridi watches a ball during a training session in Gros Islet, St Lucia.—AFP Dawn.News Updates

KARACHI: Pakistan’s limited overs captain Shahid Afridi has defended his decision to quit Test cricket, saying he does not have the temperament to play the traditional format of the game.

Afridi though feels that he should not have ended his Test career without completing the series against Australia in England last year.“My decision was absolutely right. I don’t think I am a Test-temperament player, hence it’s best that instead of me players more suited to Test cricket are selected,” Afridi said in an interview.

Afridi said he did not become the Pakistan Test captain by choice and was pressurised to take up the job in the interest of the team.“I didn’t want to accept, but I was under pressure to accept it. I was advised that the unit that I had built [in ODIs] should be continued in Tests too. I didn’t want to back out or let the team down. The team was going through a difficult phase and we were trying to re-build the team, hence I accepted,” he disclosed.“However, I had made it clear that if I didn’t enjoy it, I would leave. I should not have quit after that first Test, but I realised that Test cricket is not for me,” he said.

Afridi said the ODI side need to learn to utilise the batting powerplays well. “Quite a few teams have faced problems with regards to the batting powerplay. For us, when we take the batting powerplay, we start losing wickets, so then we thought it’s probably best to delay the powerplay and take it right at the end to avoid losing wickets earlier.”I do realise we have this problem. The coach and I have discussed this in detail and hopefully we will see some better results on this in the upcoming series in the West Indies,” he added.

Afridi said he was happy to play the role of a floater batsman and was focusing more on his bowling which had paid rich dividends in the World Cup where he took 21 wickets.“For the past three or four years, I have been a bowling all-rounder. I have focused a lot on my bowling in this period and it has worked well. I should use my batting according to the situation.

There should be no set position for me,” he said. The all-rounder also remained unfazed by criticism about his batting performances.“Definitely, there is criticism and I always take the criticism positively. The West Indies tour and the Zimbabwe tour are good series for me to regain my batting form. I acknowledge that recently I may not have worked as hard on my batting as I should have, but I have addressed that.”

Afridi said he enjoyed playing under Wasim Akram and also regarded Moin Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq as good captains.“I enjoyed my cricket a lot under the captaincy of Wasim bhai and my performance was good too. Moin was also a tough cricketer and a fighting captain while Inzi was good too. So these would be my top-three, the three captains under whom I enjoyed my cricket a lot,” he stated.

When it came to naming the coach who inspired him the most, Afridi could not look past the late Bob Woolmer.Describing Woolmer as the ‘best coach’ he had played under, Afridi was full of praise of the Englishman’s ability to motivate the players. “Woolmer has to be the best coach.

His coaching style was great, so when a player wasn’t performing, Bob would sit with the player, chat with him informally, all this to ensure one’s spirits didn’t fall and the player wouldn’t get demoralised. That was a great quality in him, as players do need that,” he said. —Agencies