Shahid Afridi Set to be Named Captain for Asia Cup

[Saj]

Despite Pakistan failing to reclaim the Twenty/20 World Cup champions crown under the leadership of Shahid Afridi, PakPassion.net has learnt that Afridi will be named by the Pakistan Cricket Board as skipper for the Asia Cup due to commence next month in Sri Lanka.

Sources close to Shahid Afridi speaking earlier to PakPassion.net stated that "Yes Afridi will skipper the team in Sri Lanka. I think he has impressed the selectors and Board and the fact that the squad played as a unit and backed each other up in a very positive way, has swayed the decision makers".

Afridi skippered Pakistan in the fifth one day international in Australia replacing Mohammad Yousuf who was dropped for the match and since then has been the regular captain of the team in the Twenty over format.

Afridi would be the first to admit that he was not at his best during the Twenty/20 World Cup averaging 15.16 with the bat and picking up 4 wickets at an average of 45.50 and an economy rate of 7.58. Despite Afridi not being the matchwinner that he was during the 2009 World Cup, his team were within a whisker of reaching their third consecutive Twenty/20 World Cup Final.

Afridi has impressed the Board and selectors enough to be given the opportunity to skipper the team in what promises to be a hotly contested Asia Cup featuring the hosts Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and of course Pakistan.

It is however unclear whether Afridi will skipper the team on the extended tour of England where Pakistan play 6 test matches, 4 Twenty/20 matches and 5 one day internationals between July and September.

The complication regarding Afridi's appointment as skipper for the entire tour of England would it seem be the fact that Afridi has not played test cricket since July 2006. As a result of this, the Board may either have to ask Afridi to consider playing the 5 day version of the game once again or look to appoint separate captains for the one day and test format.

http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/files/3/0/0/Afridi_989526.JPG

[Stewie]

if not anything else at least beat the damn Indian team for once. :)

[Zaka]

A Very Very Good News For Pakistani Fans After All the Post PAK VS AUS Tour Stuff is going On AND YEs Afridi Lead Pakistani Team very Well And INSHALLAH WILL DO MUCH MUCH BETTER IN ASIA CUP AND HOPE SO TEAM IS CHOSEN WITH HIS CONSULTATION And Saj Bhai Coaches Are The Same Waqar and Ijaz Hope so they Continue :) AND THANKS FOR SUCH A GOOD NEWS :)

[sultanator]

:69:

[Zaka]

if not anything else at least beat the damn Indian team for once. :)

:))) :))) :))) Hahahah YES INSHALLAH WILL BEAT :P DONT WORRY ABOUT THAT :)

[Wazeeri]

We unfortunately don't have any decent captains, haven't had one since Wasim Akram.
Afridi is the only option we have.

[Luton Bad Boy]

if not anything else at least beat the damn Indian team for once. :)

We have beat them comprehensively as I recall in the Champions Tophy...

India's weak bowling vs Pakistan brittle batting (get ready for another rollercoaster!!)

[fawad_wellwisher]

We unfortunately don't have any decent captains, haven't had one since Wasim Akram.
Afridi is the only option we have.


Yes that is the reality of the situation. Let's see when the Afridi bubble bursts!

[Inswinger]

As expected. The T20 and ODI captaincy is Afridi's to lose.

[sultanator]

We unfortunately don't have any decent captains, haven't had one since Wasim Akram.
Afridi is the only option we have.

He's not the only option, the PCB are just too bent on seniority. Afridi is a moron. Akhtar should be captain, he's a much more aggressive and smarter player. Just watch how Afridi's form drops significantly with the bat. Akhtar is a bowler and it's much easier maintaining bowling form than batting form, which is why Akhtar is the perfect choice. Even for all 3 formats. You can't say controversies deny him his right because Afridi has also been involved in such things.

[insaftak]

decent move,

[Atif]

Thats great news, stick with one captain, no need to keep changing after each series, inshallah he will get better and better

[so123]

So will Asoa Cup team look like:

Butt
Shahzaib
Umar Akmal
Fawad Alam
Afridi
Kamran
Razzaq
Amir
Akhtar
Gul
Ajmal

Plus 4 new faces who don't get a game.

[dhump]

Happy to hear that let's give afridi a decent run as captain before thinking of anyone else.
I am sure he will improve.

[insaftak]

So will Asoa Cup team look like:

Butt
Shahzaib
Umar Akmal
Fawad Alam
Afridi
Kamran
Razzaq
Amir
Akhtar
Gul
Ajmal

Plus 4 new faces who don't get a game.


I don't want to see Razzaq in any ODI game, he will probably be replaced by Hammad Azam.

[Down2Earth]

hmmm 50 overs seem to be too much for poor old Afridi. Test cricket? Well that'll be a joke

[Atif]

So will Asoa Cup team look like:

Butt
Shahzaib
Umar Akmal
Fawad Alam
Afridi
Kamran
Razzaq
Amir
Akhtar
Gul
Ajmal

Plus 4 new faces who don't get a game.

Thats a decent team

[Atif]

hmmm 50 overs seem to be too much for poor old Afridi. Test cricket? Well that'll be a joke

Why will 50 over seem too much ? hes played ODI's before ?

[Afridi_Fan]

He's not the only option, the PCB are just too bent on seniority. Afridi is a moron. Akhtar should be captain, he's a much more aggressive and smarter player. Just watch how Afridi's form drops significantly with the bat. Akhtar is a bowler and it's much easier maintaining bowling form than batting form, which is why Akhtar is the perfect choice. Even for all 3 formats. You can't say controversies deny him his right because Afridi has also been involved in such things.


:)))

[MIG]

I dont understand what we expect from Pakistani players ! They arent role models - they are just players who play to win.

As long as he can deliver the kind of performance we had against Australia in the semis ( husseys innings withstanding), I am fine with him.

Let him try his luck and be done with it.

[Atif]

He's not the only option, the PCB are just too bent on seniority. Afridi is a moron. Akhtar should be captain, he's a much more aggressive and smarter player. Just watch how Afridi's form drops significantly with the bat. Akhtar is a bowler and it's much easier maintaining bowling form than batting form, which is why Akhtar is the perfect choice. Even for all 3 formats. You can't say controversies deny him his right because Afridi has also been involved in such things.

But Akhtar will of the field after 4 overs to nurse his injury, so who will captain then ?

[Inswinger]

He's not the only option, the PCB are just too bent on seniority. Afridi is a moron. Akhtar should be captain, he's a much more aggressive and smarter player. Just watch how Afridi's form drops significantly with the bat. Akhtar is a bowler and it's much easier maintaining bowling form than batting form, which is why Akhtar is the perfect choice. Even for all 3 formats. You can't say controversies deny him his right because Afridi has also been involved in such things.
You need to be on the field for longer than 3 overs to be even considered for captaincy.....

[Stewie]

Agreed MIG.

I think consistency and continuity will probably do us some good here.

More power to Afridi and the team. Go on and make us proud boys. We are with you.

I dont know if anybody follows 50 over ODIs anymore but lets hope a win in this tournament will put us back on track.

[Atif]

Agreed MIG.

I think consistency and continuity will probably do us some good here.

More power to Afridi and the team. Go on and make us proud boys. We are with you.

I dont know if anybody follows 50 over ODIs anymore but lets hope a win in this tournament will put us back on track.

Always follow the 50 over game expecially when Pakistan are playing :)

[Afridi_Fan]

And this is from sources close to Afridi, not to PCB. I know Saj, that whatever you report turns out to be true almost all the times, but is it really authentic that Afridi will captain in Asia Cup?

[Atif]

And this is from sources close to Afridi, not to PCB. I know Saj, that whatever you report turns out to be true almost all the times, but is it really authentic that Afridi will captain in Asia Cup?

Dont worry, and dont doubt PP, PP is always right :D

[*sallu*]

Atleast theres some continuity in our cricket
That can't be bad

Afridi deserves a fair chance as captain

[Afridi_Fan]

Dont worry, and dont doubt PP, PP is always right :D


I've never doubted PP. Just asking.

[Dr. Khan]

We unfortunately don't have any decent captains, haven't had one since Wasim Akram.
Afridi is the only option we have.

I agree, it is not like there are a lot of choices.
Someone mentioned Akhtar, it is proposterous, the man has not even been playing for Pakistan. Afridi needs to improve exponentially though and needs to get his act straight. The latter being the most difficult of proposition. I simply do not expect much especially after what has been circling the news lately.

Hopefully we can get in the cricketing news for the right reasons soon.

[bantu]

Ah thats not new ! we knew he was the candidate................. Lets see if the selectors keep the faith in him for the longer format.....

[Gotham Cronie]

if not anything else at least beat the damn Indian team for once. :)

Since 2007, it's

IND - 5
PAK - 5

Also, Pakistan has won 3 of the last 4 and 4 of the last 6.

[Imr4n_Khan]

I hope Shahid Afridi won't captain Pakistan during the ICC World Cup 2011 because only guys with the last name Khan can bring in the cups for Pakistan:D

[sully3]

He's not the only option, the PCB are just too bent on seniority. Afridi is a moron. Akhtar should be captain, he's a much more aggressive and smarter player. Just watch how Afridi's form drops significantly with the bat. Akhtar is a bowler and it's much easier maintaining bowling form than batting form, which is why Akhtar is the perfect choice. Even for all 3 formats. You can't say controversies deny him his right because Afridi has also been involved in such things.


you are a moron who wants to make akthar the captain, a player who has hardly played for pakistan in the past 4 years.

are u ijaz butt :ibutt ?

[sully3]

if salman butt scores big in asia cup he gets the nod to be test captain ! simples

[IAJ]

I didn't read the whole article, but I really hope Afridi makes a comeback as test player. His 20 balls 30 is much better than Misbahs 65 balls 40. Besides Afridi will be a very handy bowler.

Come on Afridi, we know you are 35+, but you still have many years left in you InshaAllah.

[srh]

Mohammad Hafeez for captain? I will leave its justification to Amir Sohail.

[sully3]

Mohammad Hafeez for captain? I will leave its justification to Amir Sohail.


he had a blonde moment
or even better
a ijaz butt moment :ibutt

[bantu]

I didn't read the whole article, but I really hope Afridi makes a comeback as test player. His 20 balls 30 is much better than Misbahs 65 balls 40. Besides Afridi will be a very handy bowler.
40 >>>>>>> 30 anyday in atest match...No?

[Wazeeri]

He's not the only option, the PCB are just too bent on seniority. Afridi is a moron. Akhtar should be captain, he's a much more aggressive and smarter player.
The captain has to be in the team now a days.

[taaveez]

His 20 balls 30 is much better than Misbahs 65 balls 40. Besides Afridi will be a very handy bowler.
Are you sure you don't have too many zeros in both the bolded numbers?

[sakss]

INSHALLAH lala will show every1 what he dint in the t20 wc....

[Indiafan]

Well the right and only choice at the moment. Have to give the dude a few more series at least to judge. But I am suprised he doesnt make a comeback into tests. Will cause a dilemma for test captaincy

[Afridi_Fan]

Are you sure you don't have too many zeros in both the bolded numbers?


:))

[AZ]

Not exactly a big surprise, I'm more concerned about what Shahid has in mind for Test cricket.

[Zaid23]

afridi has already said in a statement today tht he will announce his retirement from test cricket in few days....salman butt will be the captain...thts almost certain now...

[Afridi_Fan]

afridi has already said in a statement today tht he will announce his retirement from test cricket in few days....salman butt will be the captain...thts almost certain now...


Where he has said?

Or are you referring to another thread on PP, where some sources are reporting that?

[Zaid23]

geo super has been showing this statement all day.....and have been reporting tht in their headlines as well

[Zaid23]

plus today in boain kia baat hai , iqbal mirza said dat pcb officials want salman butt as captain according to his sources and have been pushin for him as test captain....afridi will continue as odi captain

[deviously~fading~away]

Not exactly a big surprise, I'm more concerned about what Shahid has in mind for Test cricket.
That is exactly what i am wondering as well. Will be surprised to see Afridi retire from test cricket. Bob Woolmer was a big advocate for Afridi & test cricket

[AZ]

afridi has already said in a statement today tht he will announce his retirement from test cricket in few days....salman butt will be the captain...thts almost certain now...

Afridi is already retired from TC...or do you mean he is retiring from his retirement? :P

[haroon]

He's not the only option, the PCB are just too bent on seniority. Afridi is a moron. Akhtar should be captain, he's a much more aggressive and smarter player. Just watch how Afridi's form drops significantly with the bat. Akhtar is a bowler and it's much easier maintaining bowling form than batting form, which is why Akhtar is the perfect choice. Even for all 3 formats. You can't say controversies deny him his right because Afridi has also been involved in such things.


I say if Akhtar could keep himself fit and played full Asia cup.. he should be given captaincy..I highly doubt he will survive two matches.. let alone the whole England tour.. I say what is the point of selecting someone captain when he won't be fit and available to play the whole tour..

I say afridi is fine.. for test captaincy.. recall younis and have him captain the side..

[haroon]

I don't think razzaq can keep himself fit and inform till 2011 WC.. PAKISTAN SHOULD TRY new, young alrounders.. the likes of Lal Kumar, anwar Ali and afew others.. get them ready for WC..I have a feeling that hard hiting alrounder with decent bowling and pace will be the ticket for the win in WC 2011..

[Lara400]

I guess Afridi will have no qualms if 7 of his players secretively form an alliance by shaking hands over a wiji board over his ouster.

What goes around goes around.

[bantu]

Are you sure you don't have too many zeros in both the bolded numbers?
His 2 balls 30 is better than............ ok fixed..... ;-)

[Kriketer]

Good to hear that. The very first thing this team want is the consistency in captaincy. It's the team and not the captain who wins and losses game.

[younus_rocks]

@zaid ..that news is fake

Afridi has said yesterday that he will play for tests if PCB asks him to play. He has no hesitation to play for country in any format and give his 100%

If thats the case its certain Afridi will lead all 3 formats ..

and our hero Younis Khan shud be brought back into tests

[younus_rocks]

Lets hope they select the following team for asia cup

Salman Butt
Kamran Akmal
Umar Akmal
shahzaib hasan
Shahid Afridi (captain)
Fawad Alam
hammad azam
mohammed amer
Saaed Ajmal
Umar Gul
Mohammad Asif/Mohammad irfan

fingers crossed

there shud be no vice captain otherwise it will create more ego problems :))) :moyo

[Shaheerthe2nd]

We unfortunately don't have any decent captains, haven't had one since Wasim Akram.
Afridi is the only option we have.

Inzaman was a decent captain. Wish we had someone like him.

[Shaheerthe2nd]

I didn't read the whole article, but I really hope Afridi makes a comeback as test player. His 20 balls 30 is much better than Misbahs 65 balls 40. Besides Afridi will be a very handy bowler.

Come on Afridi, we know you are 35+, but you still have many years left in you InshaAllah.

I hope you're talking about T20 or ODI.

[iHammad]

How many centuries afridi made in tests ?
He's an all-rounder, chill

How many wickets does Younus Khan have in tests?

:afridi

[insaaniyat]

We unfortunately don't have any decent captains, haven't had one since Wasim Akram.
Afridi is the only option we have.

Not true. We have plenty of options. Anyone but Afridi:))

[insaaniyat]

Why will 50 over seem too much ? hes played ODI's before ?
Because he has a brain which last 5 overs or five minutes, whichever comes first:)))

[younus_rocks]

Not true. We have plenty of options. Anyone but Afridi:))

no ..afridi will be better .. as all pak players respect afridi as player .. bcoz he is sooo flamboyant and has been bowling superbly since last 5 years better than mendis,bhajji

if u make salman butt a captain .. noone will want to play under him bcoz he himself has been a failure 90% times.. he drops so many sitters .. his fieding is worst to say .. and his batting is inconsistent ..nobody will want to play for pak with such a leader

afridi has been best the bowler for pak in last 5years ..he is rated more than harbhajan .. afridi got Huge $ in IPL than other players of pak .. he is worth that much ..



so lets stick with afridi for 6months and see if he can improve ..afterwards ditch him out if he underperforms as captain.

[Wised up]

Afridi should be leading Pakistan till 2011 wc at least, can't change captains every series. Talking about ODIs.

Tests is a different ball game altogether. Afridi's doesn't even play tests..

Choosing a captain for tests is tough task right now.

[Ryankhan]

Thats very Good decision but if i was in place of this stupid PCB, i would had brought back YOUNIS KHAN as the CAPTAIN of the team with afridi as his deputy. Give them a young team with very few seniors and then look at the results, inshallah im sure we will win and have positive results. BUt im happy with AFRIDI aswell but in test matches, we badly need YOUNIS KHAN as the captain, he is simple the BEST. All the best to SHAHID bhai and hope he does well in ASIA CUP and inshallah this time we reach the finals and win it. Im guessing a SRILANKA vs PAK final since sri are a dangerous side in their home

[Poison]

Mmm, this news pleases me minions. :afridi

[hashbb]

i admire younis khan

but lets speak truth

younis khan has **** record captaining in tests .. not won any cup for us..all series lost or drawn

He had just one shot in tests..and plus he had people like malik , inti, yousuf in the team who were creating negativitiy

[haroon]

^I agree.. i thought Pak should have won the SL test series..

specially the first test.. one of the most depressing test i have ever watched.. the final day.. the way Pakistani players throw their wicket away.. it was just sad..

[Dr. Khan]

afridi has already said in a statement today tht he will announce his retirement from test cricket in few days....salman butt will be the captain...thts almost certain now...

What, yet again he wants to retire from test cricket.
He has been retiring from the longer format for the last five years.

[Amjid Javed]

No shock that Afridi as been given ODI captaincy alongside T20s Which is a good move.

Test matches are something different though...

[IMMY69]

Logically, Afridi should have been made captain for Odi's after Younsi Khan rested himself..Instead we had Moyo captaining the Odi's in Australia.

Anyway, time to get behind Lala, and lets hope he learns and improves from each game and regains some form with the ball.

[akamaka]

YESSSSSS!!!! It's mine finally!!! :afridi

[Sledger]

Fair enough, the only option really. I wouldn't want anyone else captaining the WC side out of the limited choices Pakistan has.
If he can up his performances and not let captaincy affect his form he can still be ok I think. I'm dissapointed that he's been a bit of a yes man but that's what you have to settle for these days in Pakistan9. Anyone who isn't dictated to by the board is quickly snuffed out by the heirarchy and labelled a quitter by fans.

Good luck to Afridi in the role.

[Saj]

And this is from sources close to Afridi, not to PCB. I know Saj, that whatever you report turns out to be true almost all the times, but is it really authentic that Afridi will captain in Asia Cup?
If the source was doubtful, then I wouldn't put it in the public domain.

I have faith in my source :)

[MIG]

I've never doubted PP. Just asking.

10 Lashes for you....

[Amjid Javed]

If the source was doubtful, then I wouldn't put it in the public domain.

I have faith in my source :)

Straight from the Horse`s mouth? ;-)

[Afridi_Fan]

10 Lashes for you....


Ouch!

[pakcricketfan]

Good decision.
I'm more worried for tests.

[MIG]

Good decision.
I'm more worried for tests.

So you agree with 10 lashes for A_F - many thanks. :ibutt

[waqar_ahmad]

Logically, Afridi should have been made captain for Odi's after Younsi Khan rested himself..Instead we had Moyo captaining the Odi's in Australia.

Anyway, time to get behind Lala, and lets hope he learns and improves from each game and regains some form with the ball.
It's good to be behind lala, if only he can show some balls on the field, in team selection, some aggressive captaincy, and not call youngsters "a big risk" to damage their already fragaile confidence, before asking the selectors to introduce more youngsters.

[faz]

My squad:

Salman Butt (vc)
Azeem Ghumman
Umar Amin
Umar Akmal
Shahid Afridi (c)
Fawad Alam
Kamran Akmal (w)
Mohammad Amir
Shoaib Akhtar / Mohammad Asif
Umar Gul
Saeed Ajmal

Shahzaib Hasan
Hammad Azam
Mohammad Irfan
Yasir Shah


I rekon its time we drafted in new blood and got rid of old farts like :misbah

[Afridi_Fan]

So you agree with 10 lashes for A_F - many thanks. :ibutt


:47:

[cricket_fever]

Wonderful news--------he is the best we have right now

[cricket_fever]

:47:
shame! :P

[adnan yasin]

He's not the only option, the PCB are just too bent on seniority. Afridi is a moron. Akhtar should be captain, he's a much more aggressive and smarter player. Just watch how Afridi's form drops significantly with the bat. Akhtar is a bowler and it's much easier maintaining bowling form than batting form, which is why Akhtar is the perfect choice. Even for all 3 formats. You can't say controversies deny him his right because Afridi has also been involved in such things.


I think u r talking about shoaib akhtar.. who has not been in the side for so long and u r saying to make him captain :D ... u must be joking i guess .. shoaib akhtar is not even certain to play the next match cauz of injury and u want him to be captain hahah..

AFridi is de best choice right now...not only because of seniority .. captain shud have a personality..by his stature.. respect in the side..aggressive..fighter..

[Pakistan97]

Shahid is good in batting

[proud_pakistani]

Should have rested Afridi for this tournament...Would have been good to give Salman Butt a go before the test matches in England...Afridi really needs to make up his mind whether he will play tests or not...God I hope hes not captain for tests...

Ps--ne1 kno when the squad will be announced?

[eViLrAcEr]

Are you sure you don't have too many zeros in both the bolded numbers?
also in the third number containing a zero :D

[Pakistan97]

Pakistan will win the Asia Cup

[adnan yasin]

it will be goood for the team. if he is the captain of the current lot..

and if he is incharge of the selection and has some kind of say .. i think Imran nazir will be in the side.. as afridi promotes big heart and aggressive cricketers

[rajachoudhary50]

Yessssssssssssssssss...we can beat the damn Indians once....but in CT we had Shoaib bhai and younis bhai who laid foundation of good score......now who ????

[Gotham Cronie]

Yessssssssssssssssss...we can beat the damn Indians once....but in CT we had Shoaib bhai and younis bhai who laid foundation of good score......now who ????

1) It was Shoaib and Yousuf.

2) Since 2007, it's

IND - 5
PAK - 5

Also, Pakistan has won 3 of the last 4 and 4 of the last 6.

[Izzeh]

he definitely deserves a chance...
But the PCB has pretty poor history with allowing captains to STAY captains. I think from now til the end of his career it should be Afridi's team. That way he'll improve and maybe Pakistan will be more consistent.

:D

[The WagonWheel]

Hmmmm ........ interesting. Who will be his 'Wise' captain ?

[adnan yasin]

after few allegations been put on .. kamran akmal sydney test errors and akmal latest anguish statement... it will be very unlikely to name him the vice captain though he will be the best choice .. they can groom akmal for future captaincy...no matter what he is the player whos in the side 99% of the time in all format and can lead the side as well ...he has potential...

just keep his wicket keeping errors aside i think he can be de DEPUTY of AFRIDI

[LG]

^^ My word!! What a dilemma!! ;-)