Wasim Akram Lashes Out at Shahid Afridi


New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS): Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has lashed out at maverick all-rounder Shahid Afridi for announcing retirement and wanting to come back in a whimsical manner.

Afridi, who announced his retirement following differences with the team management, said he will not play under the current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, after head coach Waqar Younis decided to quit after the recently-concluded Zimbabwe tour, Afridi expressed his desire to make a comeback.

Akram said the all-rounder should make up his mind once and for all.

"Afridi is making things too complicated for the PCB," Akram told mobile ESPN. "Cricket is a team game and not an individual sport. You have to treat the interests of the team and the management above your individual preferences."

This was not the first time Afridi has announced his retirement. After being appointed Test captain in 2010, the all-rounder quit after just one match, citing lack of form and inability to play five-day cricket.

He also led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup in India, but was soon replaced by Misbah-ul-Haq.

Akram said Afridi needed to put aside his personal interests and play as a professional.

"His retirement has become a joke now. You will have difference with your coaches, chairman and with your colleagues, but it should not show in your outlook. At the end of the day you are representing your nation - Pakistan."

Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in a three-Test series, starting October 18 in the UAE.

"The first challenge for Pakistan would be to find a new coach. It's important to find the right man for the job. Does he gel well with the players? What combination does he form? All these questions will decide the fate of Pakistan cricket," said Akram.

Akram feels Pakistan have a good chance in UAE. "Pakistan team has an abundance of talented players so they have no problem on that front.

"Sri Lanka, without Muttiah Muralitharan, are not the same side. Australia got the better of them on their home ground. It will be a tough series but Pakistan will do well against Lanka," said Akram.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Ashar, Delhi

    Wed, Sep 28 2011

    Common you can not throw some body of the captaincy just because he isn't good in press.
    It was just totally unfair on him, and you are supposed to see a backlash.PCB cannot boss on the players all time.Its only good that he started it.lets see where this ends

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Waseem reshi, Kashmir

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    Hi afridi u are the best player of the team. pls come back of your team.thanks good bye to u.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Maha, Kuwait

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    He's right, but Wasim Akram is missing the point that, at the date, Shahid Afridi had said he's taking 'temporary' retirement, and that he may come back to play.

    I don't see what the hoopla is- he's doing exactly what he said he would.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • shaik, india

    Sat, Sep 24 2011

    shahid afridi is right for his retirement because when afridi went for westindies tour PCB announce afridi will not lead pakistan PCB was not make single call to afridi suddenlly taken a decision and all of know afridi 's playing role in world cup how afridi taken his team to the semi final and all of know afridi's talent he is match winner player he can do magic with bat or ball and all the PCB members are planning to skip afridi in all format and i think wasim akram wants to know how afridi handle the situation all the fans are supporting to afridi and main thing is that afridi have come in international team

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Wasim Akram Lashes Out at Shahid Afridi



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.