–PCB’s “fitting” farewell for Misbah, Younis, Afridi
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had, even before their retirement, promised cricket fans that veteran batsmen and former captains Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan would get fitting farewells for their contributions to Pakistan Cricket.
This was nothing less than a contingency plan. Come what may in the West Indies series, good or bad, the last of the old guard would not go without last rites befitting their stature. After all, Misbah had not been in the greatest of form and Younis is a cricketer that can falter almost as frequently as he performs.
It was a matter of fate then, that the two had a fairytale ending. For careers that have been nothing other than rocky, it was even a little uncharacteristic that they went out the way they did: guards of honour from friend and foe alike; previously unassailable feats achieved and a dramatic last over finish. Call it divine favour or just good timing for an excellent series, the way these two giants of the game left was if nothing, very memorable.
Perhaps, that is why the PCB has decided to make light of the promised farewell ceremony for the two cricketers. At first it seemed almost as if they had forgotten their promise. Fate itself had given Misbah and Younis the perfect send-off and they need not acknowledge them any longer. Then, Pakistan won the Champions Trophy and everybody seemed to forget it all together.
Now, almost as an afterthought, the PCB has announced that there will be a ceremony this September to honour the two men that have served Pakistan Cricket in so many ways and for so long. And while one would normally be able to ignore such laziness and disregard as a consequence of life, there is one glaring interloper that is nothing short of demeaning for Misbah and Younis: Shahid Khan Afridi.
According to the PCB Chairman Najam Sethi, who might just have waited for Shehryar Khan to retire to hold the ceremony given his penchant for the spotlight, “We plan to arrange a special award ceremony for former captains Misbahul Haq, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi. They served Pakistan for a long period and deserve appreciation.”
That’s right, the man who demanded a “farewell match” and pouted and stomped his feet around when he was not being given one is to be “honoured” alongside Misbah and Younis. It is even understandable He too is a former captain, a prolific cricketer with a huge fan base.
But for all his stature, adding him to the ceremony is nothing more than an attempt to appease him and his overly chatty self which enjoys speaking to the media. Moreover, the fact that “others” are also going to receive awards at the ceremony makes it feel like the PCB is only brushing this off and killing as many birds with a stone as possible. Even more than that, adding Afridi to the ceremony demeans both Misbah and Younis.
Afridi, after all, had many opportunities. He had the love of the crowd, charisma and flamboyance. He could have had whatever he wanted if he played his cards right. Unlike the gritty journey that both Misbah and Younis undertook, Afridi had it made for a long time.
And while he may not be responsible for the PCB’s decision to include him in the festivities, it still feels like he is once more encroaching onto other people’s spotlights There is obviously no malicious intent involved, but it sure does feel like it, and those critical of him will point fingers at him nonetheless. So it may just be an apt goodbye for Afridi as well.
For Misbah and Younis, The only fitting farewell would be montages, and emotional speeches and teary eyes as these anchors of Pakistan’s modern cricket were centre stage for the last time. Not sharing a stage with Shahid Afridi, or with a host of others for that matter. And that also to receive some lifetime achievement award, which at this point, seems like all it’s really going to be.