why was he chosen based on this just one performance. Now I dont have access to his other innings but if the selectors chose him for this innings then what an irony. I assume they did because they've been doing that in the past.
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yaar i was follwing the domestic SA competition and he has scored two fifties and one century (barring that innings you mentioned) plus he also took two five-wicket hauls..... But i quit folliwing it coz of my exams.
I am not favoring his recall hundred percent but that inning you mentioned wasnt the lone case for his inclusion i m sure.
The dates of ACF coincide with NZL tour for which Pak team will leave around mid december. I havent read the revised schedule but i remember first test match was supposed to be played from 19th december in the original itenarary.
A superb all-round performance from Pakistani international Shahid Afridi helped Griquas to what proved a comfortable 33-run win over Kwazulu-Natal in the Standard Bank Cup match in Kimberley on Friday night.
Live Scorecard
Opening the batting with Pieter Koortzen after being put into bat by KZN, Afridi struck 91 runs from just 63 balls as the wickets tumbled around im.
While Afridi smashed his merry way, Griquas stumbled to 73 for five before reaching 207 for eight in a match reduced to 42 overs per side as a result of a waterlogged outfield.
KZN were dismissed for just 174 in the 40th over, falling well short in their run-chase, Afridi chipping in with two for 25, wrapping up the match when he dismissed West Indian Nixon McLean for a first-ball duck.
When Griquas were put into bat, Afridi struck ten fours and four sixes to the delight the home crowd and when he was sixth out with the score on 131, his contribution to the Griquas total was embarrassingly large.
Fortunately for the home side Greg Smith hung around until the 40th over, making 53 from 78 balls with two fours and a six, gently nursing the tail to ensure Griquas batted out their overs.
Most of the KZN bowlers were put to the sword by Afridi, with one predictable exception. Former South African captain Shaun Pollock cut a swathe through the Griquas batting, finishing with the superb figures of three for 20 from his nine overs.
Lance Klusener was also impressive, claiming one for 31 from eight overs as he continued to state a serious claim for a place in the national side after a fine start to the domestic season.
After a decent start by Ahmed Amla and Goolam Bodi, KZN stumbled into trouble in their run-chase, crumbling from 49 without loss to 119 for seven as Zaheer Abrahim ripped his way through the middle order, finishing with three for 25 from nine overs.
No KZN batsman made it past 30, Ahmed and Hashim Amla, Pollock and Ross Veenstra all making it into the 20s before heading back to the pavilion.
So after a good display in the Supersport Series in which they qualified for the Super Sixes, Griquas have now made a fine start to the domestic one-day competition as well.
I think its a very wise move. Afridi has experience I think he is the only one in the team who has the skills to be the captain. He is very vocal and supportive in the field, which pumps up the rest of the team. He may not be the best batsmen or bowler, but I think he is a good candidate to lead the side. After seeing his current form in South Africa...lets hope he continues that and leads Pakistan A to victory.
I think the only reason Afridi has been given the captaincy is because he has alot of experience and he has also played and done well in India, so I think its a good choice.
Pakistan ‘A’ team tour to India delayed by 10 days
(Updated at 1600 PST)
NEW DELHI: The first visit by a Pakistan cricket team to India in almost five years, scheduled to begin next week, has been postponed by 10 days, it was announced on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s second-string team, led by Shahid Afridi, was due to play against the ‘A’ sides of India and Sri Lanka in a limited-overs series at Eden Gardens in Calcutta from December 13-22.
The series will now be held at the same venue from December 22-30, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said, without giving any reason for the delay.
The tournament will feature a mix of international players and the cream of young talent from all three countries.
A Pakistan cricket team last toured India in February-March 1999 when the senior side under Wasim Akram played three Test matches and a limited-overs series.
The senior Indian team is scheduled to undertake its first Test tour of Pakistan since 1989 in March-April next year.
Revised schedule of ‘A’ series in Calcutta:
Dec 22: India v Sri Lanka
Dec 23: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
Dec 24: Rest day
Dec 25: India v Pakistan
Dec 26: India v Sri Lanka
Dec 27: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
Dec 28: India v Pakistan
Dec 29: Rest day
Dec 30: Final
*Shahid Afridi (pictured below) will captain Pakistan A **
[thumb=E]sa18114_5581246.JPG[/thumb]
*Pakistan's first cricket tour to India for five years has been put back.
Pakistan A were scheduled to play in a limited overs series at Eden Gardens in Calcutta from 13-22 December.
But, the games will now be held at the same venue from 22-30 December, said the Board of Control for Cricket in India, without giving any reasons.
The triangular tournament also features Sri Lanka and will star a mixture of international players and the best young talent from all three countries.
A Pakistan cricket team last toured India in February and March 1999 when a senior side played three Test matches and a limited-overs series.
The Indian government banned bilateral cricket matches against Pakistan in May 2000 following growing tension over Kashmir, only allowing the teams to meet in multi-nation tournaments like the World Cup.
But a recent thaw in diplomatic relations between the countries saw cricket ties being revived in November when an Indian under-19 team toured Pakistan.
The senior India team is scheduled to start its first Test tour of Pakistan since 1989 in March next year. *
Revised schedule:
22 December: India v Sri Lanka
23: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
25: India v Pakistan
26: India v Sri Lanka
27: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
28: India v Pakistan
30: Final
It's going to be challenge for Afridi. I'd have prefered Faisal Iqbal to lead the side. He has been good in leading Pakistan 'A'. Few months back, Pakistan 'A' won the three-four match against South Africa 'A'. And then you have Faisal's experience as a skipper of Jr. World Cup team U-19.
Anyway, since Afridi has been given a chance, I hope he make his mark but I don't think if Pakistan 'A' wins the ACF series, Afridi will be selected in the National Team Squad.
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*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
It's going to be challenge for Afridi. I'd have prefered Faisal Iqbal to lead the side. He has been good in leading Pakistan 'A'. Few months back, Pakistan 'A' won the three-four match against South Africa 'A'. And then you have Faisal's experience as a skipper of Jr. World Cup team U-19.
Anyway, since Afridi has been given a chance, I hope he make his mark but I don't think if Pakistan 'A' wins the ACF series, Afridi will be selected in the National Team Squad.
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I think the reason why Afridi was asked to lead was because his limitless experience and also he has a very good record on Indian pitches.
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*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
I think the reason why Afridi was asked to lead was because his limitless experience and also he has a very good record on Indian pitches.
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Yup. :)
Afridi is the only player in the squad who has been to India, and played both forms of Cricket, ODIs and Test matches. Hopefully, his experience will come handy and he won't let us down.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - Discarded allrounder Shahid Afridi said he was confident Pakistan A team will win a tri-nation series in India starting next week, raising his chances of a recall to the national team.
**“Playing in India would be a great challenge but we are up to it and I am confident that my side will win the series,” Afridi told AFP on Thursday. **
A 14-member Pakistan A team with Afridi as captain leaves for India on Friday to face hosts India and Sri Lanka in a three-nation series in Calcutta from December 22-29.
The 23-year-old Afridi was dumped after a poor run in Pakistans dismal first round exit from this years World Cup.
He was then banned from a four-nation event in Sharjah in April after he was charged with abusing Indias Virendar Sehwag in the World Cup match.
Afridi was not considered for the national team and instead played provincial cricket in South Africa.
“This would be a ladder for me to regain my place in the national team as I am anxiously waiting to play against India on home grounds,” said Afridi.
The A series is the last of three junior level events agreed upon by arch rivals Pakistan and India during the Asian Cricket Coucil meeting in London in June this year as the first step towards reviving stalled cricket ties.
The Indian government cleared its team’s tour to Pakistan two months ago after bilateral ties were snapped over political tension three years ago.
India is expected to tour between February-April next year for their first visit to Pakistan since 1989-1990 but the itinerary is still to be finalised.
Pakistan Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Imran Nazir, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Naved Latif, Faisal Iqbal, Bilal Asad, Abdul Rauf, Khalil Ahmed, Mansoor Amjad, Junaid Zia, Saeed Bin Nisar, Mohammad Irshad, Aminur Rehman. Naved Anjum (coach), Azhar Zaidi (manager)
