Shahid Afridi is due to return here on Sunday from London where he met Bilawal Zardari Bhutto to sort out his cricketing problems after stern action of Pakistan Cricket Board against him. Flamboyant all-rounder Afridi is passing through most taxing phase in his career after opening a fierce war against PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.
Shahid Afridi, who led Pakistan in the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup earlier that year, might appear before a PCB disciplinary committee with his legal firm Mandiwala and Zafar Associates officials. Under the breach of a code of conduct, PCB came hard on Shahid Afridi by terminating his central contract and revoked all his Non Objection Certificates (NOCs) for playing overseas.
While announcing his retirement from international cricket, in protest for the PCB mistreating him, Afridi said that he would not play cricket for Pakistan under the present management. In the meantime, supporting and welcoming banners for Shahid Afridi were seen in the different parts of the city which asked the cricket lovers to receive the embattled all-rounder at Jinnah International Airport on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, former test cricketers blamed the PCB for mishandling Afridi’s issue which led to his retirement from international cricket. “I think Afridi shouldn’t have crossed the line at first. But if he had made the mistake being the captain, the PCB should have handled out in proper professional manner,” former test left arm-spinner Iqbal Qasim said.
“Pakistan cricket is already suffering from various problems and PCB-Afridi issue made us a laughing stock in the world,” he said. He said Afridi definitely led Pakistan from the front during the Cricket World Cup and his 21 wickets guided his team into the semifinals. Afridi went through lean patch during the Caribbean trip where he could manage to score 28 runs and just two wickets in five matches One-day International series.
“Incompetence within the PCB is the main problem which has taken the Pakistan cricket beyond repair,” he commented. Meanwhile, Afridi still hopes to get clearance for his county stint and has called in the lawyers in a bid to secure permission from the PCB. Afridi was punished for violating the players’ code of conduct in announcing his retirement from international cricket and leveling allegations of mistreatment at the PCB.
He had been sacked as one-day captain last month after publicly criticising coach Waqar Younis for allegedly inappropriate meddling in team selection. Media reports said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have asked the sports ministry to submit an independent report on the affair. But insiders said that the PCB took the step in connivance of the top government officials.
In the past, during the tenure of PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, other senior players who were also in dispute with the Board, had also hired lawyers to fight their cases including former captain Younis Khan and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
