Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue / Mohammad Asif selected for now

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

PCB a divided house over appointment of new vice captain

Islamabad, May 1 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to be a divided house over the issue of the appointment of new vice captain of the national team.

Well-placed sources in PCB said that top PCB management a few selectors have clear differences over the issue.

“The PCB high ups want to make pacer Muhammad Asif deputy of newly-appointed skipper Shoaib Malik while chief selector Salahuddin Sallu is lobbying for Karachi based Shahid Afridi for the slot,” The Nation quoted the sources as saying.

Sallu has not only put his weight in favour of Shahid Afridi, but has also started an open campaign for getting him appointed and also issued media statements to support stylish opener.

Insiders revealed that the Board’s top officers were not happy with this attitude of the newly appointed chief selector and he may get an explanation call. They said that no selector or even chief selector had openly lobbied for any player in the past and it was a rare precedent that was set by Sallu by open and outright support of Shahid Afridi.

“The chairman PCB Dr. Nasim Ashraf wanted to handover the team to totally new leadership. Muhammad Asif stood tall among all the young candidates to win this contest after Shoaib Malik got appointed captain of the team. However, chief selector did not want him because he favours a Karachi based deputy,” the sources elaborated.

They added: “The credentials of Shahid Afridi are not strong for the post because he has to fight hard for his own place in the team due to his inconsistency in the performance.”

It was also learnt that ad-hoc committee of PCB which was likely to meet in Lahore on May 7 will approve Shoaib Malik’s deputy and would address all the affairs in letter and spirit.

Meanwhile, cricket circles in Pakistan have also criticised the appointment of Shoaib Malik as skipper in the presence of various senior players like Muhammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi. They said that if the Board wanted to have a youngster as captain of the team then they must provide him fresh players.

http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/303b19022816233b/id/245592/cs/1/

2

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

^ If any one saw that MANI guys interview of Afridi they will remember Shahid praising Sallu ...saying "sallu bhai achay aadmi hain" .

There seems to be a good rapport b/w them.

3

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

Another loose canon, Afridi does not even deserve a place in the side because of his temper and then of course lack of consistency.

Instead of penalizing him for creating rifts in the team, this guy is going to be rewarded. Another Pcb classic.

4

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

Agreed

Since the PCB has gone for 26-year old Malik as skipper, Asif (someone who commands a place in both teams) would be a better choice as vice-captain

5

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

They should make shoaib akhtar as VC. This way first time in history both captain and vice captain will share the first names.

6

Re: Pak’s New Vice Captain - A new issue

^ :hehe:

7

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

I was support the idea of having Mohammad Asif as the vice-captain. Makes a lot of sense, taking into account the future as well. Who else is left besides him?

8

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

No one is guaranteed a opening position and no one is guaranteed a middle order position (yusuf and yunis, shoaiby & razzaq are out of consideration). No one is left except Mohammad Asif and/or Umar Gul. Shahid Afridi is a stupid choice really and another favoritism move.

9

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

I would go with Asif and VC as he is the one who holds positions in both tests and OneDays..

10

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

I will also go for Asif -

Shahid needs to get hold of not getting banned in every series and Akhter needs to stop getting unfit for 11 months and 30 days of the year...

Asif can be a consistent player as well..

11

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

Who would you rather have, Shahid Afridi, most popular, very aggressive, and a proven captain for Karachi, or Asif, who has little experience in leading any side, and a proven steroid user?

12

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

Definitely Muhammad Asif.

13

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

if I were in the selection comittee, I would oppose Asif's candidacy as the VC simply because of his doping scandal. Pak cricket is in pretty bad shape as it is, and it can ill afford a vice captain who has a question mark against his conduct.

Moreover, as a front linebowler, he is more prone to injury and thus more likely to miss matches than a batsman. I would instead give consideration to M Hafeez. Yes, he needs to secure his place in the team but if he can't open then maybe we can bring him in lower down the order. I think he is a reasonable batsman and has shown good leadership skills in domestic competitions.

14

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

I personally would recommend different VC's for both limited overs and Tests. This is atleast one slot that can have more than one name associated with it.
Any new potentially talented player can be the ODI VC.

However, I would make Umar Gul as Test VC. I think Umar Gul is more aggressive than Asif even though he might not be as talented as Asif.

Where as for limited overs matches, the VC can be rotated every year so that many new emerging players can get the experience. And just in case Malik fails, there will be more than 1 VC to choose from.
First year, it should be an opening batsmen.
Second year, a fast bowler.
Third year, new middle order bat or another bowler
Fourth year, another opening bat or an allrounder.

Other choices would be the replacement WK, if the new WK/batsmen shows enough promise.

15

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

how about younis khan?

16

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

Hey Afridi...
Salams...
Wher've u been man!
Long time no see no hear no read no...... :D

Sannan Khabardaar..
17

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

:D
whats happening Afridi786 ? what have you been up to ?

18

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

Well it don't matter really who should be the VC...Pakistan cricket on international level has already crumbled...in the coming years...we will be losing more often...till we get some shape and structure...

We are back to experimental stage...yet again...rise & fall...rise & fall...rise & fall... :)

PS: After the WC 2007...our first match...an ODI...should have been against Ireland...

19

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

I think they are making a big fuss out of this. Among new Asif should be vice captain as his spot is permanent in ODI & Test teams.

20

Re: Pak's New Vice Captain - A new issue

I think Umar Gul is more agressive then Asif.