He was not comfortable with the coaching of Waqar and is very keen to play under new management and new coach as Dean Jones the expected Coach of Pakistan more likely to have him in the team.
So Its Afridi’s Return Time
Friday, October 7, 2011
Afridi seeking a come back after Meeting with Zardari !
He was not comfortable with the coaching of Waqar and is very keen to play under new management and new coach as Dean Jones the expected Coach of Pakistan more likely to have him in the team.
So Its Afridi’s Return Time
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Afridi To Decide On Comeback After A Month !
"There is a lot of pressure from fans and friends to come out of retirement, but I will wait for things to improve. I will take at least a month to reconsider my decision."
Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a full series in the United Arab Emirates, starting October 18.
Afridi, leading Karachi Dolphins in the ongoing National Twenty20 Cup, said he was not compromising on his form and fitness.
"I am training hard and focusing on improvement with both the bat as well as ball.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Waqar set to quit as coach, Afridi wants to come back again !
KARACHI: Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi on Saturday expressed his desire to return to international cricket as Waqar Younis, with whom he has serious differences during his captaincy, is set to quit as coach.
Afridi told reporters that there was increasing pressure on him from different quarters to make himself available to play for Pakistan. He promised an important announcement in a month’s time.
“I want to play for my country again. My main dispute and problem was with Waqar Younisbut now that he is going I am hopeful the situation will improve in the team,” Afridi said.
Afridi, who announced his retirement from international cricket in May in protest against his removal as ODI captain after West Indies tour, said he had many problems with Waqar.
“There were serious differences between us because he used to interfere in the captain’s domain and on selection issues. My main grouse was with him. He is now going and things will change,” the flamboyant former all-rounder said.
Afridi had also blasted the Board and selectors for not supporting him and made it clear it was very difficult for him to play under present set up.
But on Saturday, his tone was different and more positive. “I want to play but I am waiting for the right time. I am confident that time will come soon. There is pressure on me that I should play again.
“I will make an important announcement in a month’s time. Right now my focus is to keep on playing domestic cricket and in foreign leagues so that I don’t get rusty,” Afridi said.
Afridi also backed the decision by Pakistan’s banned pace bowler Mohammad Aamer to confess to a court in London that he was involved in spot-fixing.
“I think he has done the right thing and brave thing. I think he should have done this earlier. But even if late it is good he has realised his mistake. I hope Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif also stop being in a state of denial and admit the truth because presently their denial is not helping them in anyway,” said Afridi
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Shahid Afridi To Play In Domestic Competition!
Former Pakistan Captain, will be seen playing for the upcoming domestic Twenty20 competition for the Karachi Dolphins.
It is expected that the player will also skipper the side, even though he has announced his retirement from International Cricket, and is always in a constant war of words with the tournament organizers, which is the Pakistan Cricket Board.
However, with a huge fan base of the flamboyant cricketer, it will be a win-win situation for both parties.
With Afridi taking part, it would certainly light up the arena, while also increasing the tournament’s popularity, which will be a beneficial aspect for the PCB.
On the other hand, the 31-year old would himself get some good competitive matches under his belt, which has been few and far recently.
Having said that, the player is not short of admirers as he has signed contracts to play oversees, with suitors from England and Australia.
His exceptional performances with English county side Hampshire, helped them reach the semi-final of the Friends Life T20, where they play Somerset on the 27 of this month.
Also later in the year, he will play in the inaugural KFC Big Bash Tournament Down Under for the Melbourne Renegade.
Generally there have been positive vibes regarding the domestic competition, after its recent success, with crowds coming in numbers to support their teams.
Karachi will have two teams in the tournament, with the Zebras expected to take the field under the leadership of Danish Kaneria.
Ironically, Kaneria has been in altercation with the Board’s Integrity committee, who are yet to give the leg-spinner, his clearance to play for the national side.
"Basically the big picture is that Afridi and Kaneria are out of favor with the board and yet they have been named to lead the Karachi teams which were finalized by the chief selector," a former Test player said.
It is certainly a strange scenario for the duo, as they look set to feature in the tournament, which had to be delayed after Rawalpindi Cricket stadium, was deemed inadequate to host the most popular domestic club competition.
The organizers have shifted the venue to Lahore, which has hosted the event before.
It is expected that the player will also skipper the side, even though he has announced his retirement from International Cricket, and is always in a constant war of words with the tournament organizers, which is the Pakistan Cricket Board.
However, with a huge fan base of the flamboyant cricketer, it will be a win-win situation for both parties.
With Afridi taking part, it would certainly light up the arena, while also increasing the tournament’s popularity, which will be a beneficial aspect for the PCB.
On the other hand, the 31-year old would himself get some good competitive matches under his belt, which has been few and far recently.
Having said that, the player is not short of admirers as he has signed contracts to play oversees, with suitors from England and Australia.
His exceptional performances with English county side Hampshire, helped them reach the semi-final of the Friends Life T20, where they play Somerset on the 27 of this month.
Also later in the year, he will play in the inaugural KFC Big Bash Tournament Down Under for the Melbourne Renegade.
Generally there have been positive vibes regarding the domestic competition, after its recent success, with crowds coming in numbers to support their teams.
Karachi will have two teams in the tournament, with the Zebras expected to take the field under the leadership of Danish Kaneria.
Ironically, Kaneria has been in altercation with the Board’s Integrity committee, who are yet to give the leg-spinner, his clearance to play for the national side.
"Basically the big picture is that Afridi and Kaneria are out of favor with the board and yet they have been named to lead the Karachi teams which were finalized by the chief selector," a former Test player said.
It is certainly a strange scenario for the duo, as they look set to feature in the tournament, which had to be delayed after Rawalpindi Cricket stadium, was deemed inadequate to host the most popular domestic club competition.
The organizers have shifted the venue to Lahore, which has hosted the event before.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
MY HEART BLEEDS TO PLAY FOR PAKISTAN: AFRIDI
KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has confessed that he is dying to play for the national team once again.
Speaking on a show on Geo TV, Afridi also made some scathing remarks on the resignation of Waqar Younis as Pakistan team coach after the Zimbabwe tour.
"My heart bleeds to play for Pakistan and I am dying to play for my country. I even wanted to go to Zimbabwe and hopefully at the right time I will make a comeback to the team," Afridi said.
The flamboyant allrounder announced his retirement from all international cricket in protest in late May after the Pakistan board removed him as captain of the national one-day team after a dispute with Waqar on the West Indies tour which was highly publicized.
Afridi has repeatedly said that he can make a comeback only when better people come into the team management.
Interestingly some cricket analysts point out that since Afridi's retirement the entire team management of the national side has been changed and indications are now he will return to the team soon.
Earlier this month, the board removed Intikhab Alam as manager and also changed assistant coaches, Aaqib Javed and Shahid Aslam while on Saturday Waqar announced his resignation due to personal and health reasons insisting he had no complaints against anyone and his decision was not cricket related.
But Afridi said that he failed to understand that if Waqar had resigned why was he being sent as coach on the Zimbabwe tour.
"I don't know but I feel if he has any issues he should have faced them. He didn't look to have health problems to me but now if that has changed I don't know about that," Afridi said.
The allrounder said he owed a lot to Pakistan and wanted to represent the country but retired because the environment in the team was not congenial.
"They need to bring in more sensible and good people into the team management and if that happens I will reconsider my decision to retire," he said.
"I have been moved by the support shown to me by the people. I owe them a lot."
The former captain said that it was unfortunate but the board had not treated players well and didn't have proper communication with them that led to lot of problems in the team.
Speaking on a show on Geo TV, Afridi also made some scathing remarks on the resignation of Waqar Younis as Pakistan team coach after the Zimbabwe tour.
"My heart bleeds to play for Pakistan and I am dying to play for my country. I even wanted to go to Zimbabwe and hopefully at the right time I will make a comeback to the team," Afridi said.
The flamboyant allrounder announced his retirement from all international cricket in protest in late May after the Pakistan board removed him as captain of the national one-day team after a dispute with Waqar on the West Indies tour which was highly publicized.
Afridi has repeatedly said that he can make a comeback only when better people come into the team management.
Interestingly some cricket analysts point out that since Afridi's retirement the entire team management of the national side has been changed and indications are now he will return to the team soon.
Earlier this month, the board removed Intikhab Alam as manager and also changed assistant coaches, Aaqib Javed and Shahid Aslam while on Saturday Waqar announced his resignation due to personal and health reasons insisting he had no complaints against anyone and his decision was not cricket related.
But Afridi said that he failed to understand that if Waqar had resigned why was he being sent as coach on the Zimbabwe tour.
"I don't know but I feel if he has any issues he should have faced them. He didn't look to have health problems to me but now if that has changed I don't know about that," Afridi said.
The allrounder said he owed a lot to Pakistan and wanted to represent the country but retired because the environment in the team was not congenial.
"They need to bring in more sensible and good people into the team management and if that happens I will reconsider my decision to retire," he said.
"I have been moved by the support shown to me by the people. I owe them a lot."
The former captain said that it was unfortunate but the board had not treated players well and didn't have proper communication with them that led to lot of problems in the team.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/My-heart-bleeds-to-play-for-Pakistan-Afridi/articleshow/9684907.cms
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