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#1
14th October 2007, 09:29
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Shahid Afridi: From rookie to cricketing talisman
'I wanted my number to be kept flexible. I told the captain and coach that once 12 overs are over, I would go out to bat regardless of the situation'
Vibrant as ever, iron-like wrists, steely attitude and a never-say-die will to overpower opponents, though a reckless individual, at times. Guess who? Still thinking? Yes, it's the one and only -- Shahid Khan Afridi. Bowlers regard him as an 'exclusive nightmare'. A few days back we got hold of Afridi after the Twenty20 World Cup and tried to peek into the black and white world of a belligerent and charming cricketer. He spoke his mind as forcefully and as vividly as he plays his cricket, breathtakingly quick and without a shadow of doubt. Syed Ahsan Ali: Congratulations on such a great exhibition in the Twenty20 World Cup. How was the experience? Shahid Khan Afridi: There is nothing new about 20-over cricket especially for Pakistan cricketers as we have been involved in this format for the last 15, 20 years during Ramadan. As far as international cricket is concerned, the Twenty20 World Cup was a great experience. Obviously, there is so much money coming in cricket, as it is becoming more of a business. Simultaneously, entertainment is increasing for the people who cannot spare six-seven hours for 50 overs a side games; they can cherish three hours of thrilling cricket in Twenty20. And in countries like China, Japan and America where cricket is not well known, this format can serve as the game's introduction. SAA: Were you expecting to be the man of the series for your bowling when batting is your strength and Twenty20 is tailor-made for big hitters like you? SKA: Batting has always been my plus point and I try to do well in bowling and fielding as well. But I did not bat as I was expected to do so at the Twenty20 World Cup, scoring only 91 runs in all. Secondly, they (the team management) didn't let me bat at the position where I wanted to and then I shifted my focus to bowling. If you look at our performance as a bowling unit, we seldom allowed oppositions to go beyond 150, 160 which I think is a significant achievement. As far as the man of the series is concerned, I never really thought about it. A friend of mine was sure, prior to the event, that I would be the man of the tournament. I would have been a lot happier had Pakistan won the final as well. SAA: Weren't you wasted down the order at the World Twenty20? SKA: We pinned our hopes on Imran Nazir, who we thought would give us good starts because you cannot strike hard from both ends and that's why my opening position could have been out of place. But Imran couldn't succeed. Then I went to Shoaib Malik suggesting him if openers are not doing well I can be tried out though I was happy coming in late. In fact, I wanted my number to be kept flexible. I told the captain and coach that once 12 overs are over, I would go out to bat regardless of the situation. However, on one or two occasions, Misbah-ul-Haq went in after the 12th over. Then I asked the captain to send me as an opener because I thought, I was being wasted down the order. I was tried as an opener in one match only, then the skipper told me that I should bat down the order citing problems in the middle order with this proposition. So I agreed. SAA: You went up in the middle-order against Scotland and then you opened in the Bangladesh tie which was a dead match, so what was the whole point of sending you up against the minnows? SKA: Definitely, what was the purpose of sending me up the order against the Bangladesh when you dropped me again down the order in the next match? On this, I talked to the captain that these three games are left and I really want to open in these three matches. However, the skipper decided something else. I can't say much about his decision. SAA: How do you see the future of ODI cricket in the backdrop of Twenty20? SKA: I don't think that Twenty20 can end 50-over cricket completely and it shouldn't either. May be Test cricket will diminish in volume. There is going to be too much cricket in coming days. Presently, If teams are playing 14 or 15 Tests annually then it will come down to 8, 9 whereas the number of high-scoring ODIs will increase. SAA: Any special pressure while bowling in 20-over games? SKA: Definitely, a lot more pressure particularly for spinners. South African tracks were very easy to bat on against spinners. But variations in pace and length can bring success. SAA: Who has more pressure in Twenty20, batsmen or bowlers? SKA: I think both have to face great pressures on different occasions. SAA: What went wrong between Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in South Africa? And how you got into that? SKA: My fault was that I intervened in to make sure no one got injured. In fact, I saved Asif. SAA: Why has Shoaib held you responsible for the spat? SKA: Shoaib was trying to save his skin by telling a lie. I think I have always favoured Shoaib. I solved his problems with Inzamam bhai. I was the one who resolved his issues with Bob Woolmer but still he dragged me into this (Asif) row, I don't know why. Asif has already given his statement over the row and soon everyone would know the facts. SAA: Was there anything different with Irfan Pathan in the World Twenty20 final? Why did you go for that lofted shot? SKA: It wasn't like that. I had great pressure after Imran, Malik and Younis Khan dismissals. I thought a couple of big hits will do the trick and then I could transfer my game to singles but it didnít work. Otherwise, I have no issues with Irfan Pathan at all. SAA: There has been a perception that you are declining as a batsman but your figures don't show that. What is your take on this? SKA: Batting is my plus point. I usually keep my focus on bowling and fielding. The way I bat, it either tends to pay off or gets you nothing at all. Players like me carry this problem. Look at Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virender Sehwag, who either get big scores or fail miserably. A batsman like me who likes to play freely has to live with inconsistency. That's why bowling has become my priority now. SAA: How do you bring so much improvement in your bowling? SKA: I think captains have shown confidence in me, either it's Inzamam bhai or Malik. Bowlers like me, who don't get much help from the wicket, good line and length, can get wickets easily. Then I bring in lot of variations such as conventional off-spin, the quicker one, subtle changes in pace to disturb the batsmen and several other experiments which work on several occasions. SAA: Where is your seam-up quicker one? SKA: The wicket-keeper has great problem with that one. Kamran Akmal doesn't get it right easily. But now I have decided that I would bowl it again consistently because it is a wicket-taking option especially when it's swinging reverse. SAA: How do you see Malik's captaincy? And what is his overall approach to the game? SKA: Malik is fine in all aspects and he has been learning fairly quickly. However, he needs to be more assertive when it comes to managing discipline. Otherwise, he has been doing well. SAA: Does having several seniors in the team make Malik's task easier or difficult? SKA: We always support him. I am not even a vice-captain but I always play my role to keep the boys motivated in the ground. We share opinions as well when I see anything different in the field. Malik regards our opinions and knows who is giving his cent percent. SAA: What about Geoff Lawson as the Pakistan coach? SKA: A cricket team's coach just has to provide good practice and training to the boys. That is all he can do. The primary responsibility is that of theplayers; they win you matches, not coaches. SAA: Any major difference between Bob Woolmer and Lawson? SKA: I think Lawson is lot more attacking in his approach. He likes to let the boys fight it out in the middle. So I rate him a bit higher. SAA: And his attitude with the boys? SKA: (briefly) It is normal. SAA: Have you recovered from the aspirations of captaincy? SKA: I offered to lead the side following Younis Khan's refusal to lead Pakistan after the World Cup debacle. At that time, I was also leading the Habib Bank team. I led them in eight games and succeeded in all those. I also captained the Karachi side in the 2006 national Twenty20 tournament to the final when no one expected us to go that far. I offered my services for Pakistan because our team was struggling after the World Cup and I decided to present an offer to lead Pakistan which has given me pride and fame, otherwise representing Pakistan alone is itself an honour. SAA: So you do not have any regrets? SKA: No, not really. I just want to represent Pakistan honourably. SAA: How is the team spirit? Are we playing like a unit? SKA: Team spirit is really good. I have never seen players working that hard. They know they have respect and money due to this game so they are recognising the value of playing for Pakistan. And they can do it only when they perform consistently. SAA: As a spectator, I perceive as if you are not enjoying the game as much. You seem to become lot more introverted. Is it true or just a perception? SKA: Enjoyment has always been there. I don't play if I do not enjoy it. May be my poor show with the bat gives you that impression. Batting failures really frustrate me. SAA: Are you happy with the board's attitude? It seems as if seniors are not satisfied with something and express their resentment through different gestures. SKA: Sometimes we feel that we do not get, from the board, enough respect, which we deserve as national players; however, then we think it is better to play cricket without complaining about anything. SAA: Does volatility in public behaviour hurt team members? SKA: Personally, I don't blame people much. We are emotional people, and our fans give us so much love and respect and pray for us, so they deserve to show their anger when we let them down. SAA: Are you satisfied with what you have achieved in your career so far? SKA: No, I think God has given me more talent than what I have utilised. I have to admit that earlier I was lacking in hard work but the way I have been working hard for the last few years, God has rewarded me for this, definitely. At the same time, if cricket board gives you good atmosphere, team spirit is good, due respect is given to you as a player you definitely feel better to perform even better. If you feel that you are being ignored and nobody is paying attention to your suggestions as a senior player then you tend to even think about giving up cricket. SAA: What made you opt for a late-order batting position? SKA: They refused to let me open and started the search for openers, and so far haven't got any success at all. Whereas when I opened I used to fire once in every third or fourth innings. When I saw this kind of apathy, I decided that I would not open again for Pakistan no matter what they say. But still I accept it occasionally just for the sake of Pakistan. After that I shifted my focus on bowling and tried to bat in the lower order where I can get 35, 40 runs quickly. It is a lot safer option to retain yourself in the team. SAA: You seem to be enjoying the title of 'Boom Boom Afridi' too much which induces you to go for big shots when that is not the team's requirement every time? SKA: You are right. My image is like that as if I enter the field and start hitting sixes. Believe me, when I sit in the dressing room while waiting for my turn I always think I would get in and take first 15, 20 runs carefully before looking for big shots. But usually when I get in I hear cheers for sixes or 'boom boom' then I forget all my plans and start looking for loose balls to loft them somewhere. You can say that I cannot control my emotions because these things have set into my mind from a very young age and now it becomes very difficult for me to get rid of them easily. SAA: What about religious attitudes within in the team? Is the cricket board trying to halt it at some level because there are no more 'Thanks to Almighty Allah' comments during post-match ceremonies these days? SKA: No, no one can stop it. At least I am not going to leave such a good thing only because somebody is saying to abandon it. Whoever likes to say he is allowed to go ahead. The board has not ordered anything about it in particular but they don't like our public show of saying our prayers at the ground or in hotel lobbies. Apart from that, the team environment is still very good. We still say our prayers but in the rooms, not in lobbies. Source: Jang 
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#2
14th October 2007, 09:31
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#3
14th October 2007, 09:37
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SAA: Where is your seam-up quicker one?
SKA: The wicket-keeper has great problem with that one. Kamran Akmal doesn't get it right easily. But now I have decided that I would bowl it again consistently because it is a wicket-taking option especially when it's swinging reverse. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is why afridi had stopped bowling his faster bowl, Thank You Kamran! 
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#4
14th October 2007, 09:42
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Afridi says that the team use to pray in the lobby...thats a bit weird.
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#6
14th October 2007, 11:19
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"He completely blames the captain for his dismal batting and criticizes Nazir's performance in the 20/20 championship, what a ghatia individual."
what do you expect from brainless idiot? he act like hs is such a team player and his every move is for the good of the team......just stfu you loser and get a life.. Last edited by inzibhai; 14th October 2007 at 11:22.
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#7
14th October 2007, 12:51
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Quote:
__________________
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf...for the Quaid(ra) and Iqbal(ra)'s Pakistan
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#9
14th October 2007, 13:58
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Quote:
__________________
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf...for the Quaid(ra) and Iqbal(ra)'s Pakistan
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#11
14th October 2007, 15:05
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Quote:
__________________
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf...for the Quaid(ra) and Iqbal(ra)'s Pakistan
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#14
14th October 2007, 16:50
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Some of the comments are foolish. If i was Malik i woud as he has suggested assert his authority on afridi for this interview.
2 things.. 1.Imran nazir made more runs than you.... 2.You had plenty of time in the final...but played a brainless shot. Who do you blame for that? the guy who caught it I can imagine his answer... "He should not have caught it because i hit it and i wanted to open and i saved Asifs life...
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#15
14th October 2007, 16:50
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So within the team he only seems to have personal problems with
Imran Nazir Salman Butt Shoaib Malik Shoaib Akhtar Younis Khan Misbah Kamran Akmal I have never read one interview with a player where he publically stirs up division with other members of the team in such a manner and apart form that the predominant use of the word 'I'. There is no I in 'team'. Maybe Woolmers coaching on this point didn't get through. The other startling admission 'i cannot control my emotions' Yes nor your mouth clearly.
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#17
14th October 2007, 17:24
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Quote:
 I think taking a couple of singles and then going for the lofted shots is the more traditional method!!
__________________
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf...for the Quaid(ra) and Iqbal(ra)'s Pakistan
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#19
14th October 2007, 18:35
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Imran Nazir fired when it counted, in the semi final and in the final. He also played a match winning knock against Bangladesh when others had floundered around him.
Afridi of course is right that he should have opened both in the semi final and in the final. For that Malik or Lawson must take the can. In that respect Afridi is just telling it like it is. Everyone I think will agree that Afridi at no.7 in a 20/20 match is a huge blunder.
__________________
"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. These are the ones to attain felicity." al-Qur'an 3:104
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#20
14th October 2007, 18:39
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Quote:
Yeah I agree that was a blunder And I do agree whatever boom Boom says, Man he is the Legend, how he can be wrong?
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#21
14th October 2007, 22:15
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I really have an issue with the fact that recently in all his interviews, he has been trying to play down his batting.
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#22
15th October 2007, 14:52
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Imran is getting alot of stick for his Twenty20WC performance, even from his own players! Someone ask Afridi, would you have smacked a 30-ball 59 in a important game like a Semi-Final? Seriously, Imran fired when it mattered the most. He was our second best batsman in the Final aswell when everybody else was falling around him
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#24
15th October 2007, 21:37
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i guess thats the type of person afridi is, he speaks his mind. As afridi himself says ' if i am going to lie or hide something it is gonna come out in public sooner or later, than why shoud i lie or try to hide it'. This interview of afridi is echoed on this quote.
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#25
15th October 2007, 23:07
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I'll say this for Afridi and Akhtar, in fact for quite a few Pakistan players; they don't make for boring interviews! Unlike our more forward defensive Indians who are mostly very correct.
Not sure which style I prefer, though. As an Indian fan, forward defensive is good for our cricketers. 
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