Re: Afridi a dead wood, should be dropped from the team
well said.
Re: Afridi a dead wood, should be dropped from the team
If we lose him, we'll lose a 'threat' that he becomes being in our team, and a good bowler. It's sad to see his career ruined because of mishandling of his position. If they had not sent him at number 5 today, things could have been different in this match with AFridi coming in after the loss of Malik/Razzaq. It's a shame really.
I couldn't agree more. Although I see him at two spots only. The lower order position or an opener. Now, we can argue that as an opener, if he falls the team comes under pressure, but many times he has clicked as an opener. Since the team leadership is now searching for stable openers, we can only utilize him better by keep sending him at no 6-8. Like we have done with Razzy and Malik.
But hen that would be logical thinking. Right? and we know our team leadership has other intentions. You know Younis is not a dummy captain. I am quite convinced he is out to prove Afridi is worthless.
Lets see!
Re: Afridi a dead wood, should be dropped from the team
South Africa v Pakistan, 10th match, Champions Trophy
Younis backs Afridi to come good
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan at Mohali
October 26, 2006
What wouldn’t Pakistan give for Shahid Afridi to regain his mojo? It’s been over 17months, and 21 innings, since he’s managed a fifty. In between he’s retired from Test cricket, reversed his decision and turned into a more-than-handy operator with the ball. Recently, as Bob Woolmer revealed yesterday, he’s made it clear that he wants to bat at No.5 - a strange choice because it’s a position that requires a calmness to get through the middle overs.
He’s capable of the lightning innings but can Pakistan afford to keep staring at the skies and waiting? “It certainly would be frustrating for him,” Woolmer admitted, “but we still see him as a positive force in one-day cricket for Pakistan. We will try and support him through this period and hope he produces the goods when it counts.”
Younis echoed his views. "Everyone wants to see Shahid play and perform,"he said, “but there is no guarantee that every player will score in every tournament. I have always maintained that this is a team game. If we play as a team and have the energy that we showed in the Sri Lanka game, we can beat South Africa comfortably.”
But is batting him at No.5 the option? “We want to utilise Shahid to the hilt,” he continued. "As an opener, if he falls early, there is pressure on him and on us. If he comes low down the order, he doesn’t have much time. We are trying to give him every chance so that he can settle down. Shahid is the kind of player who can win matches single-handedly. It hasn’t paid off till now; it’s part of the game.
What that’s also meant is that Shoaib Malik, arguably Pakistan’s most valuable player over the last two years, gets a chance only at No.6. Younis, though, didn’t want that to change. "It’s working for the team,"he justified. “He has made almost 100 runs in the first two matches, and he played a matchwinning knock in the first match. It’s good for the team too. Before the tournament, he was out of form, and now is back in the runs. He is happy with his spot in the batting order.”
Afridi at No. 5 and Malik at No. 6 meant that Younis needed to shoulder the burden at No. 3. He hardly made an impression in the first two games, managing scores of 7 and 2, but he insisted that it had nothing to do with the pressures of captaincy. “My form has nothing to do with captaincy,” he asserted. “I am not the captain for the first time. Last year, in Karachi [against India], I led and performed and we won the game too. There is so much cricket that you can’t maintain the same level every time. Ricky Ponting too hasn’t made runs in two matches. But yes, as captain, your attention is divided. I am thinking for everyone now. I need to carry the youngsters. Maybe my focus has shifted a little away from my cricket. I need to start to get the focus back. I am constantly learning, I want to keep learning.”
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is staff writer of Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
Source: http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/iccct2006/content/current/story/264624.html
Re: Afridi a dead wood, should be dropped from the team
I like Younis, but he is beginning to talk too much these day…
Re: Afridi a dead wood, should be dropped from the team
I will Keep him till Worldcup!
though he doesnt play well but the threat of his presence is immence.... World knows "Boom Boom Afridi" :) He has taken 193 Wickets also. so in this sitution, when Pakistani team is running short of match winners, dont talk about him this way.....
To be very honest, at the moment, i cant see any replacement of Afridi. first bring some one who can get imp. wickets for you, who can hit if not 216 hugeeee sixes then atleast one in a match, who can be sharp in field, specially on Point position, and last but not least, who can entertain the croud :) (if he plays well :D )
Re: Afridi a dead wood, should be dropped from the team
^When was the last time Afridi won a match?
Re: Afridi a dead wood, should be dropped from the team
^ ...seems like a BC thing doesn't it...