Karachi : Facing criticism for Pakistan’s dismal show in the ICC World Twenty20, Shahid Afridi today stepped down as captain of the team but will continue to play in the shortest format of the game. The Afridi-led Pakistan failed make it to the semifinals of the World Twenty20 in India, where his comments also drew the ire of former players. The 36-year-old all-rounder and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had hinted that World T20 could well be be his last as skipper.
“Today, I wish to inform my fans in Pakistan and all over the world that I am relinquishing the captaincy of the T20 Pakistani team of my own volition,” Afridi said in a statement, released on his twitter account. “On this day, I thank Allah (SWT) for His Kindness and Mercy which enabled me to discharge my leadership duties, to the best of my abilities for the sake of honour and prestige of my motherland. For me it was a great honour to lead my country in all three formats of the game,” Afridi wrote in his statement. Afridi, however, asserted that he will be available for selection as a player in the team even though PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan has made it clear that the all-rounder is no longer a surety in the side.
“My profound thanks to the PCB and its Chairman Shaharyar Khan who gave me the honour to lead the national team. I would also like to inform that InshaAllah I intend to continue to play the game for my country and league cricket etc. and request my fans for kindly keep praying and supporting for my best future performances for Pak (as a player); and in all other arenas of the game, world over.”
Afridi found himself mired in controversies during Pakistan’s World T20 campaign. First, he drew flak in Pakistan for stating that he and his players were loved more in India than back home. Later, Pakistan lost three of their four group stage games, including a high-voltage clash against arch-foes India, to bow out of the tournament.
“I don’t care what other people say about me but I am answerable to you (people of Pakistan). I, Shahid Afridi, seeks forgiveness from the people of Pakistan for not living upto the expectations that you had from this team and me,” Afridi had said in a brief video message on his Twitter page. However, Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis refused to step down from his position despite being in the line of fire for the team’s disastrous World Twenty20 campaign, saying that he will not go out as a “villain”.
“I am being portrayed as the villain. If the Board wants to remove me they first have to inform me in writing. I have no issues but I will not go like this,” Waqar told PTI. Pakistan cricket has been thrown into disarray after the team’s poor performances in the Asia Cup and World T20 but Waqar said he did all he could to arrest the slide.
“I didn’t request for the coaching job. I applied for it with the PCB. I was interviewed by Mr Najam Sethi and I submitted a comprehensive plan to him with which he concurred and the board appointed me as coach,” Waqar told PTI. “Unfortunately after the World Cup 2015 Sethi never met me and despite me pointing out several issues I was facing in unfolding my plan no one in the board listened to me,” he said.
