The Pakistan Cricket Board has yet to take a decision on Shahid Afridi`s future as captain of the national team. The PCB has issued show cause notice to Afridi seeking an explanation for making his views public regarding his differences with chief coach Waqar Younis on the composition of the team during the recently concluded ODI series in the Caribbean. An official of the PCB said that the flamboyant all-rounder would find it difficult to win back the confidence of board chairman Ijaz Butt.
“Afridi is expected to send his reply to us today and so far no decision has been taken on his future as captain,” sources said. “Ijaz Butt was not happy with Afridi`s attitude and his keenness on going public with team issues even before the World Cup. That was one reason why the board took so long to name the captain for the World Cup,” he said. “Even then the board had warned Afridi to avoid giving too many statements in the media and not to discuss team issues. In fact, during a meeting, the PCB Chairman had told Afridi to be careful in future. The delay in announcement of the captain for the World Cup was meant to give a clear message to Afridi that he was not indispensable,” the source added.
Afridi had criticised Younis for interfering in team selection during the 3-2 one-day series win over the West Indies. “Waqar interferes with the team selection and everyone should do his job,” Afridi said on his return from the West Indies on Sunday. Television channels and newspapers have reported in the last 24 hours that the board has decided to sack Afridi as captain and he might not be in the squad that will play two one-day matches against Ireland later this month. Afridi himself has now tried to downplay reports of a rift within the team management involving him and coach Waqar.
