Shahid Afridi is furious with former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt for proposing that Mohammad Hafeez, together with Coach Dav Whatmore had formed a group against Misbah-ul-Haq to get him off the team.
Even though there was no mention of Afridi in Butt’s claim that Hafeez and Whatmore were scheming together to pressure Misbah, Afridi was very upset with the proclamation. Citing the team’s 2010 spot-fixing scandal, media outlets quote Afridi’s vehement statements that this isn’t the first time Butt has issued damaging statements about the team, and that at this age he should rest at home.
Reportedly, Butt had called the board to remove Whatmore and sack Hafeez. But Misbah and Hafeez called up a press conference in which they clarified that there was no conflict whatsoever between them. Afridi backed their claims and assured everyone there is unity in the team.
In an interview, former Test batsman Basit Ali too reportedly said there was no truth to Ijaz Butt’s statements, and mirrored Afridi’s dissatisfaction with Butt regarding his mishandling of the spot-fixing issue.
Back in 2011 during Butt’s term, Afridi left cricket when the board sacked him as the T20 captain after the West Indies Tour when Afridi had a disagreement with Coach Waqar Younis. He rejoined the team only when Zaka Ashraf took Butt’s place as Chairman of the board. Media outlets report that Afridi appreciates everything Ashraf has done for the team, its image and its unity.