Shahid Afridi claims that the ball tampering issue has been blown out of proportions

[umerz]

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/...n-afridi-ts-01

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi claims that the ball tampering issue has been blown out of proportions by certain elements in the Pakistan cricket fraternity who want to support a captain from Punjab.

Speaking excusively to DawnNews, Afridi stated that he simply cannot accept embarassing defeats, and indulged in ball tampering during the final ODI at Perth against Australia out of sheer frustration.

Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain, who is serving a two match ban after the incident, reiterated that he had apologised to his family and entire country over the issue.

He added that he does not want captaincy in all forms of the game, as he is mentally and physically not fit to bear the rigours of the test format.

“Our test team should include players who have the temperament of playing the longest format of the game.”

Afridi’s comments regarding the ever controversial issue of ball-tampering comes after former England captain Tony Greig and former Australian captain Ian Chappell threw their weight behind the legalisation of some sort of work on the ball to attain swing.

“Some may choose to deny it but most bowlers have technically indulged in ball-tampering,” Greig told Cricinfo's Time Out show. “Ball-tampering is one of cricket's most open secrets and it has been for at least 50 years.”

“Most of the better cricket administrators have been former players and they know that its been happening,” he added.

Chappell while condemning Afridi’s ‘chomp’ was also in favour of doing “everything possible should be done to encourage swing.”

“You've got to keep swing bowling in the game. Because swing bowling and leg spin bowling are the two aspects of the game that you must do everything to encourage, they are both attacking forms of bowling,” he said.

[taaveez]

Originally Posted by umerz He added that he does not want captaincy in all forms of the game, as he is mentally and physically not fit to bear the rigours of the test format.

THIS probably the real spicy part of the masala.

[Momo]

Originally Posted by umerz He added that he does not want captaincy in all forms of the game, as he is mentally and physically not fit to bear the rigours of the test format.

That's precisely why I would love to see him captain all three teams.

[Momo]

Originally Posted by umerz Afridi stated that he simply cannot accept embarassing defeats, and indulged in ball tampering during the final ODI at Perth against Australia out of sheer frustration. He added that he does not want captaincy in all forms of the game, as he is mentally and physically not fit to bear the rigours of the test format.

Got to love the simplicity and honesty of the Afridi.

[umerz]

Plus his mention of Captain from Punjab....this is from DawnNews so i have posted it otherwise i surely wouldn't have posted it and thought of it as Total masala news

[deviously~fading~away]

Well there you have it. Looks like Afridi has finally said a last good bye to test cricket. He doesn't look interested in playing test matches as a captain nor a player. Sad!

[Momo]

Originally Posted by deviously~fading~away Well there you have it. Looks like Afridi has finally said a last good bye to test cricket. He doesn't look interested in playing test matches as a captain nor a player. Sad!

He might be trying to indicate that he is still too young for Test cricket at this point of maturization.

[Sufi Malang]

I think Afridi is getting desperate to get the captaincy otherwise whats the point of giving such statements that a certain lobby wants captain from PUNJAB??? It means he himself is creating rifts among the team based on Punjab - Karachi divide??

He should be careful with his statements.

[Zu456]

He said he cannot handle embarresing defeats - maybe he wont be able to captain pakistan then

[Momo]

Originally Posted by Zu456 He said he cannot handle embarresing defeats - maybe he wont be able to captain pakistan then

Or may be he will not accept embarrasing defeats and hence will not get immune to them like others.

[talal12345]

At the toss he said he doesn't care about winning or losing, and just wants the team to play well. I'm no expert or anything but imo Pakistan played rather well.

[fawad_wellwisher]

Originally Posted by umerz [url] Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi claims that the ball tampering issue has been blown out of proportions by certain elements in the Pakistan cricket fraternity who want to support a captain from Punjab.

Well, well, well ..................... so players do think there is preference of one province over the other. .................
Afridi losing it again.

Speaking excusively to DawnNews, Afridi stated that he simply cannot accept embarassing defeats, and indulged in ball tampering during the final ODI at Perth against Australia out of sheer frustration.

So Afridi decides to put the whole nation's integrity on line by trying to chew the ball on live TV. Shabaash meray laal!

He added that he does not want captaincy in all forms of the game, as he is mentally and physically not fit to bear the rigours of the test format.

He does not want to play test cricket. period

[Ryankhan]

he didnt said not playng test but he was talking about test captain. its sad to see he isnt ready to captain the side in test which is sad. i think Younis should be test captain, thats it, he is only one competitive and energetic.

[Afridi_Fan]

Ok, as much as I love the man. I'm not going to support him on this Punjab/Sindh ********. And then if you are not ready to be the captain for the tests I think you shouldn't captain the other sides too.

Really sad.

[Eagle_Eye]

OH dear... This means Shoaib Malik will be back in charge !!

I am not surprised that the next Captain has to be from Punjab... What have the pathans done when they were entrusted with that responsibility recently!! One cried off like a baby and the other started to cheat! And generally the rest of the country is trying to make sure they dont get killed by pathans whilst shopping or in religious ceremonies.

A capable and cerebral captain from anywhere would suffice.... If only Azeem Ghumman was few years older.

[sali]

Best man should win.

Afridi is the most qualified among the current lot to lead ODI and T20. Shoib can't hold his position in ODIs. Shoib has already been given the chance to captain Pakistan and he needs to work on his batting.

Afridi's statement about Punjab may just kill his chances, he shouldn't make such statement in public. He has to lead a team that's mostly from Punjab and he needs to get them behind him.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Did Afridi actually mention this Punjab thing or is it just Dawn adding a bit of Mirch/Masala?

[waqar_ahmad]

I dont see a quote saying he mentioned ethnicity.

Also, his excuse that he couldnt take defeats, and so decided to tamper the ball is not valid.

I am not against ball tampering actually, but I am against eating it in front of everyone.

Afridi is stupid.

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed Did Afridi actually mention this Punjab thing or is it just Dawn adding a bit of Mirch/Masala?

The thing is there are no qoutes from the player himself, produces a bit of doubt in mind. But then I don't think DAWN will publish such Masala news.

[Eagle_Eye]

Originally Posted by Afridi_Fan The thing is there are no qoutes from the player himself, produces a bit of doubt in mind. But then I don't think DAWN will publish such Masala news.

Dawn is from KHI and always under the MQM infleunce. I remember Bob Woolmer complaining about Karachi Media unfairly targeting him.

[Boi]

The idea of having him captain in all three formats is now out of the window it seems. Malik does not deserve to be anywhere near the test side so he shouldnt be captain there. Who is the remaining choices?

YK and Yousuf? I'd go with Younis for tests. Shahid Afridi for Odis and T20s.

[insaaniyat]

Originally Posted by Afridi_Fan Ok, as much as I love the man. I'm not going to support him on this Punjab/Sindh ********. And then if you are not ready to be the captain for the tests I think you shouldn't captain the other sides too. Really sad.

Salam Rameez Bhai. I guess we all have to draw a line sometimes, no matter how much we love a player. Well said

[zaid65]

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi claims that the ball tampering issue has been blown out of proportions by certain elements in the Pakistan cricket fraternity who want to support a captain from Punjab.

What a pathetic attempt to cover his ball tampering and captaincy issue. This clearly shows that mentality of this man who could do anything from ball tampering to create the ethnic rift among the team members to get the captaincy.

Not surprised at all from above statement.

He added that he does not want captaincy in all forms of the game, as he is mentally and physically not fit to bear the rigours of the test format. “Our test team should include players who have the temperament of playing the longest format of the game.”

What happen to our beast, so is he a fake beast?

[fawad_wellwisher]

I think he fooled himself by thinking Pakistan can win every game with him as their captain. By hook or by crook!

[zaid65]

Originally Posted by fawad_wellwisher I think he fooled himself by thinking Pakistan can win every game with him as their captain. By hook or by crook!

Now he is trying to fool the people with pathetic and stupid statements just to cover his own idiocies.

[insaftak]

Afridi is lucky that he got away with 2 match ban for eating the ball

[McBoom]

Masala news.

[12thMan]

Reported by DAWN and saying

Speaking excusively to DawnNews

So there must be a video of this as this is a TV channel (DAWN newspaper's TV channel)

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by 12thMan Reported by DAWN and saying So there must be a video of this as this is a TV channel (DAWN newspaper's TV channel)

But there isn't any.

[JustAnotherFan]

Sigh, Pakistan must just win the World T20 and all will be forgotten.

[Cryin Out Loud]

Every time Afridi opens his mouth he seems to put something in it.

[SirRyanOfSalford]

Speaking excusively to DawnNews, Afridi stated that he simply cannot accept embarassing defeats, and indulged in ball tampering during the final ODI at Perth against Australia out of sheer frustration

couldn't take the defeats! I guess he could take the defeat when he batted. All he had to do was bat 5 out of 8 overs and score more than what he did..especially when the 2 youngsters had done everything to brought Pak back into the game. I guess that involved some kinda thinking and hard work..easiar to just chew on the ball and say i couldn't take the defeat lol

[insaaniyat]

Originally Posted by Cryin Out Loud Every time Afridi opens his mouth he seems to put something in it.

BALL

[MalikMohsin]

Didn't he realize during Pakistan tour of England - 2006, where he was in the squad, and witnessed the first time, Pakistan has forced to come back so late after being accused of ball tempering cheats by Darrell Hair, and English media along with Australian media as well as Indian media, has made mockery out of Pakistan team including the skipper back then.

Sometimes, his words do surprise me with his respect for the game and for the team. Inzimam was regarded as HERO for taking the controversies matter to the court, and on the other hand, Shahid Khan Afridi has presented the theory of 'B.A.L.L' and mastered the new way to temper or trying to promote his restaurant back in Pakistan?

I gotta say sometimes we love the surprise and love em. LOL

[zaid65]

He added that he does not want captaincy in all forms of the game, as he is mentally and physically not fit to bear the rigours of the test format. “Our test team should include players who have the temperament of playing the longest format of the game.

It is funny, how many times he has flip flop his own statement of playing test matches. In his recent interview with Pakpassion, he made himself available for the test matches and now since he knows that he will not get the test captaincy, he came out with above statement.

If he think that he does no have a temperament to play test cricket, why did he made himself again?

I am glad people are seeing the true colors of legend.

[GLORY OF '92]

Dawn is trustworthy but no quotes on the Punjab issue is questionable. Statement about tests is extremely worrying, now I'm mentally prepared for losing all matches in England if malik/moyo is captain. Sad but true.

Zaid65 it would be appreciated if you controlled your vitriol a bit.

[Kriketer]

I agree with Shahid. Even Hitler is talking about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh1XfXkowtw

[AZ]

what a joke of an article...the first 2 lines are enough to show that

but he is right, too much of an issue is being made out of his stupidity