Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, says he will speak to Shahid Afridi about his surprising decision to skip Tests until after the World Cup in 2007. Afridi announced last week his intention to temporarily `retire’ from Test match cricket due primarily to an increasingly heavy playing schedule.
Woolmer, in Abu Dhabi already for a coaching course, will talk to Afridi over the course of the two ODIs between India and Pakistan later this week. He told Cricinfo, “I would like to speak to Afridi in Abu Dhabi to discuss his decision. Naturally it is not for me to make comment regarding his announcement until I have had a chance to discuss this with him.”
Though Afridi has constantly dismissed suggestions that his dropping from the second Test at Kandy had anything to do with his decision, speculation remains that there was more to the move than appeared immediately apparent. But Woolmer seemingly confirmed Afridi’s assertion, saying, “I believe he has shown categorically that he can handle Test cricket and he has been an important member of our side. He gives the team an added dimension.” Afridi had complained that too much cricket had taken its toll on him and that he wanted to spend some time with his family and concentrate solely on the World Cup.
Afridi had not spoken to the PCB about his plans, only informing Inzamam-ul-Haq of his decision. Inzamam has been non-committal, saying only that he would not like to create undue pressure on Afridi to do something he does not want to do at this stage.
Chatter from within the PCB suggests that officials plan to speak to Afridi in Abu Dhabi in an effort to, if not immediately reconsider, then at least think about it a little longer before making the decision final. “We will speak to him to see what his thinking is. It is a surprise to us but ultimately if he has made up his mind, then we cannot do much. You can drag a horse to water but you cannot make him drink it,” said one.
Another official revealed that Afridi had been reluctant to go on the tour of Sri Lanka in the first place and had even requested that he be dropped from the Kandy Test. “This has come as quite a surprise although he intimated that he was not up for the Sri Lankan tour saying that he had played too much cricket. He actually asked to be left out of the Test side at Kandy.”
Just checked a post from a "Die Heart" Afridi fan to Bob Woolmer on his his website :hehe:
"i m very sad and shock as the whole cricket loving in the whole world by hearding the news about AFRIDI,i couldnt sleep and eat well since i heard this news,i m big biggggggggggg die heart fan of those days when no one considered himas a test player.He is definitely crowd puller .i bend my knees to request you and afridi to come back ASAP otherwise told him many fans will commit suicide due to this decision and icc must also consider heavy work load and fatigued of players plaese sir i reqquuuuuuuuuuessssstttttttttttttttttttttttt uuu to send this message plzzzz to afridi thank you very MUCH"
Anyway some of the replies/comments which Bob had regarding questions to Afridi’s retirement were:
-Its his decision but it do come as a shock
-I believe he only wants to play 1 day cricket until teh world cup, he wants to be fresh I suspect.
-We will do our best to talk to him
-I will see what I can do
-I agree I will chat with him in Abu Dhabi
-Ok firstly we did not break his heart when he was not selected for the Knady test in fact he was very relieved, he actually asked to be left out of the team. Inzy and I have always supported him. This is completely his decision.
-Afridi has made his decision to retire from Test cricket of his own accord. Inzaman and I have always supported him and like him in the team. The truth is that he finds Test cricket tough, mentally! He did ask us to not select him for the test match in Kandy. I personally believe that he has made the wrong decision and I will be speaking to him about this In Abu Dhabi. I think he is a fine cricketer but also think he has made this decision hastily. I ask you all to be patient and let us see what happens from here.
This makes a lot of things clear as it shows Afridi was not pissed off at being dropped rather he himself felt he wont be able to give hundred percent and asked to be dropped. Good luck Afridi!
Skhan and myself were so correct We voiced this possibility/concern as soon as second test started
We voiced this possibility/concern as soon as second test started 