Expressing disappointment over team’s dismal performance against India, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan on Monday said T20 skipper Shahid Afridi will retire after the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup in India.
“Afridi said to me that he will retire after this World Cup [World T20]… I didn’t force him for this decision,” the PCB chief told a press conference here.
“If Afridi changes his mind and wants to continue playing as a player then we’ll take that decision (of playing him or not),” he added.
Khan said the decision of keeping Afridi as the captain till World T20 was taken 9, 10 months ago.
“When Afridi fails to perform then people criticize him and when he wins matches for Pakistan then they go silent,” said the PCB chairman in defence of the flamboyant T20 skipper.
Commenting over the team’s prospects in the ongoing tournament, Khan said the next two matches were really important and good performances in these encounters will cement Pakistan’s place in the semi-finals.
“Team is passionate despite losing to India,” said Shahryar Khan.
Speaking about bilateral cricketing ties between Pakistan and India, the PCB chief said more and more cricket between the two countries was the call of the hour.
“We couldn’t held a bilateral series because the Indian government did not approve it,” he said, adding that the International Cricket Council (ICC) team has given a ‘good report on security situation’ in India.
Expressing his annoyance, Shahryar Khan said Umar Akmal should not have asked the legendary cricketer, Imran Khan to recommend change in his batting position.
Interestingly Shahryar Khan had publicly expressed his disappointment yesterday with the team after it lost a much hyped match with India.
“Pakistan ranks seventh in the T20 format. So the country should not pin much hope on the team,” he said speaking to a British news agency.
He said that in the match against India the team failed to grasp wickets.
Criticizing the decision to include Mohammad Sami in the squad he said, “If three fast bowlers could not help the team win, a fourth would not make things better. There should have been a spinner in the team.”
In a statement which surprised many, he openly criticized team captain Shahid Afridi. “His future is evident. After the World Twenty20 ends, we will begin looking for another captain.”
About Coach Waqar Younis he said, “His contract ends in June. We will rethink our decision over him.”
