Pakistan greats lament

.....Afridi’s retirement:

Former Pakistan cricket greats Saturday lamented captain Shahid Afridi’s decision to retire from Tests and said he should not have been made captain in the longer version of the game.

The 30-year-old, forced to come back after a four-year Test hiatus and appointed captain for the tour of England, said he would retire from the longer version following the second Test against Australia at Headingley next week.

“My temperament does not suit to longer version of the game, so I will retire from Test cricket after the Leeds Test,” said Afridi, a limited overs specialist with a hard-hitting batting style.

His decision came minutes after Pakistan’s 150-run defeat against Australia at Lord’s on Friday, leaving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to search for a new captain for the four Tests against England which follow.

Tour manager Yawar Saeed on Saturday said Salman Butt, currently vice-captain, would take over the captaincy for the rest of the tour.

Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq criticised the PCB for appointing Afridi.

“Afridi’s appointment as Test captain was a wrong decision in the first place,” said Inzamam, who led Pakistan on their last tour of England in 2006. “Forcing him to take the job has backfired and has damaged Pakistan cricket.”

Inzamam said senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan both not on this tour should immediately be recalled.

“This Pakistan side is short on experience, so Yousuf and Younus should immediately be recalled so that there is more experience which is always needed on a tough tour of England,” said Inzamam.

Both Yousuf and Younus were banned indefinitely following Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia between December and February.

Younus’s ban was overturned on appeal, but he was not selected for the England tour after PCB chairman Ijaz Butt did not clear his return to the team.

Yousuf did not appeal against the ban and instead retired from all cricket in protest. However, Pakistani media reported Yousuf has been recalled for the England Tests, a claim not officially confirmed by the PCB.

Former Pakistan spinner Iqbal Qasim said Afridi’s retirement will affect the team’s morale.

“Afridi’s sudden decision will affect team’s morale,” said Qasim, who resigned as chief selector after the tour of Australia in February this year.

“I am disappointed with his decision because it came after the defeat.

“We all know he took the captaincy unwillingly, but when he took the responsibility he should have fulfilled it, his sudden decision will also affect younger players.”

Another former chief selector, leg-spin great Abdul Qadir said retiring has become a trend in Pakistan.

“It (announcing retirement) has become a trend to blackmail the authorities,” said Qadir. “Afridi was a misfit in Test team so it put added pressure on him.”

KARACHI, Sunday AFP