Friday, 3 June 2011

Shahid Afridi calls in lawyers for county permission

kARACHI: Former captain Shahid Afridi has called in the lawyers in a bid to secure permission to play county cricket in England that was denied amid a public slanging match, an official said Friday.

“We have received a letter from legal firm Mandviwalla and Zafar Associates on behalf of Afridi and as per the rules we forwarded it to the disciplinary committee,” said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar.

Sources close to Afridi said the letter was not a legal notice as such but sought permission for him to play county cricket.

The PCB revoked all No-Objection Certificates issued to Afridi to play abroad, stopping him from playing for Hampshire in the Twenty20 league in England.

The PCB also suspended his central contract and salary, asking Afridi to appear before a three-man disciplinary committee on June 8.

Afridi was punished for violating the players’ code of conduct in announcing his retirement from international cricket and levelling allegations of mistreatment at the PCB.

Afridi has since confessed to breaching the code of conduct and the letter Friday outlined his contributions during his 15-year career.

“Afridi is a national hero and has been revered throughout his career, which started as a 16-year-old boy,” said a copy of the letter seen by AFP.

“It was in recognition of his services that Afridi was made captain of the team last year and he guided Pakistan to the World Cup 2011 semi-final,” said the letter.

“Revoking all his NOCs is an attempt to restrain him from financial gains. Afridi should be allowed to play county cricket,” it added.

He had been sacked as one-day captain last month after publicly criticising coach Waqar Younis for allegedly inappropriate meddling in team selection.

Afridi has also received political support from Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sports Minister Shaukatullah Khan promising to help.

Local media reports said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have asked the sports ministry to submit an independent report on the affair.

PCB Selector Muhammad Ilyas replies Afridi in same Language

‘Afridi didn’t need to raise hell’

Pakistan coach Waqar expressed that he was taken back by Afridi’s decision while he was not in the country and he came to know of the developments in the dreadful matter through the media. PHOTO: FILE AFP

LAHORE: While admitting to having conflicts with former captain Shahid Afridi, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis expressed his surprise over how the all-rounder had ‘raised hell’ while announcing his retirement.

Afridi announced his international retirement protesting the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to remove him from One-Day International captaincy as well as the treatment meted out to him. Waqar expressed his disappointment with the announcement and termed it an unfortunate episode.
“When you spend a lot of time together, differences do emerge and views might conflict to some extent but that doesn’t mean you raise hell,” said Waqar while talking to reporters at Gaddafi Stadium after submitting the tour report. “The whole episode is very unfortunate and I’m very disappointed because Pakistan cricket was heading up.”
Waqar said he had a positive and productive meeting with the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt in which he submitted his report on the tour of West Indies.
“To be a Pakistan coach is a tough job and criticism comes your way regularly. One must also be ready for it. Being a coach, if the team performs well, I get credit and in case of its failure, I get the blame as well.”
Afridi’s removal from captaincy was reportedly because of him lashing out against the team management, notably Waqar for ‘interfering too much’. However, Waqar appeared reluctant to comment on Afridi’s comments but did believe that the all-rounder was improving.
“I was obviously happy with his captaincy as he was improving but I don’t want to comment further. I have handed my report to the chairman. As a coach, I have my own domain and I know my job description. I never interfered with Afridi’s job or in the selection affairs. His statement that the coach intervened comes as a surprise and I fail to understand why he said such a thing.”
PCB forms disciplinary committee
Meanwhile, in response to the reply sent by Afridi to the PCB’s charge-sheet, the board has formed a three-member committee to look into the conflict.
The committee is made up of Sultan Rana (Director Domestic Cricket), Shafiq Ahmed (GM Domestic Cricket) and Usman Wahla (Manager International Cricket) and has asked Afridi to appear before them on Wednesday.
Commenting on the letter sent to Afridi today, PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad said, “It is painful for us to get involved in a dispute with a cricketer who has been the national team captain until the West Indies series.”
He lauded Afridi’s contribution to Pakistan cricket but emphasised on the need to maintain strict discipline in the team

PCB, Afridi head for final showdown

Board revokes NOC, all-rounder’s county and SL league participation put in doubt. ILLUSTRATION-ANAM HALEEM

LAHORE: Shahid Afridi’s cricket future took a turn for the worst as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) launched a disciplinary action against the former captain and also revoked all NOCs handed out to him that places his county stint and involvement with the Sri Lanka Premier League in doubt.

While suspending his central contract, the PCB has also given him seven days to explain the comments made on-air against the board on a private TV channel.
Afridi, on Monday night, surprised the nation when he announced his retirement from international cricket due to the harsh treatment meted out to him by the board. He was replaced as One-Day International captain for the series against Ireland which he skipped due to his father’s illness.
Angry reaction by the PCB
The PCB responded angrily to the comments by launching the inquiry against Afridi who arrived in England for his short stint with Hampshire. According to the PCB, the announcement of retirement itself, if not made to the board first, is a breach of the code of conduct.
The Express Tribune understands that the PCB has a strong case against Afridi and has a detailed charge-sheet against his actions. Afridi, in the past, has violated various terms of his contract but each time the PCB has pardoned him after assurance that he will not be repeating those mistakes.
“The PCB welcomes his retirement decision,” PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters. “But he has breached the code of conduct and has to give a reply for that. It was disappointing to hear what he said but this is something he decided on his own.”
The implication of the PCB stance will prevent Afridi from participating in the Sri Lanka league starting from July while his stint with Hampshire is also in jeopardy with the PCB informing both sets of officials about the NOC.
Criticism galore for the all-rounder
Afridi’s sudden decision has received mixed response from former cricketers and administrators. Majority, though, agree that it was a hasty decision, taken in bad taste and that the all-rounder ‘should be punished’.
“I don’t understand why he needed to do this,” said former captain Zaheer Abbas.
“He is the same Afridi who was backed by the current setup on various occasions and today he is blaming the board.
“He has forgotten that it was the board that supported and backed him during the ball-tampering incident in Australia and even when he didn’t perform.
“Even after Pakistan lost the World Cup semi-final, the board not only rewarded him but gave him a lot of respect. If he had issues, he should’ve talked to the PCB instead of bursting out in media.
“The sort of language he has used while announcing his retirement is unacceptable at any level. There is no excuse for him to behave this way.”
Unacceptable how he went: Inzamam
Former captain Inzamamul Haq was unsurprised by Afridi’s decision, saying it was not a new thing but was left disappointed by the way it was announced.
“I always expect from Afridi to play good cricket but this is an unacceptable way to end everything. To me this is not a new thing, our players always muddle up with the cricket board which is very unfortunate.”
Former leg-spinner and chief selector Abdul Qadir also slammed Afridi for making a mockery of the word retirement.
“Nowadays, it has become a joke to announce your retirement,” said Qadir. “Our players are doing it regularly and backing out which causes embarrassment to Pakistan cricket.”
Inzamamul Haq
“I always expected Afridi to play good cricket but this is an unacceptable way to end everything. This is not a new thing, our players always have this thing against the cricket board which is very unfortunate.”
Rashid Latif
“Afridi’s decision to retire, after people like Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf left, should be treated as a serious issue and I demand the Pakistan government to form a committee and solve this.”
Wasim Akram
“It is sad and will hurt Pakistan cricket badly. Just last month, Afridi was showered with praise, given cash awards and suddenly this happened. Not even the best doctors have a treatment for Pakistan cricket.”
Moin Khan
“This is a mistake of the PCB administration. Afridi never took any names while he criticised the policies and the board took note of that. Why isn’t anyone in the government taking notice of PCB’s actions in last three years.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2011.

EXCLUSIVE Afridi’s manager talking and Afridi arrives at Hampshire

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Interference is part of my job: Waqar Younis

PAkistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis said on Thursday that he did not understand Afridi’s statement about interference in team. He said that interference was part of his job. Talking to media in Lahore he said team is performing well but these kinds of conflicts disturb the performance of the team. Waqar said “differences come to surface when we work together but no one should make hue and cry”. He said that he has submitted the tour report to the PCB and further action would be taken by the board.

Big Bash teams want Afridi despite PCB revoking NOCک

MELBOURNE: Despite PCB revoking Shahid Afridi's NOC barring him from playing in the foreign leagues, Cricket Australia officials have expressed their desire to rope in the flamboyant all-rounder for this year's Big Bash Twenty20 tournament.

After the former Pakistan captain announced his retirement from international cricket following his stand-off with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, several of the eight teams featuring in the Big Bash have shown their interest in signing Afridi, who had a successful stint in the event two years ago.

A number of other states also indicated their interest in explosive West Indian opener Chris Gayle, whose ongoing tussle with the country's cricket board following a radio interview resulted in his omission from the one-off T20 International and first two ODIs against India starting on Saturday.

Stuart Clark, general manager of the Sydney Sixers, said he would be interested in speaking to these players for his side, which is based at the SCG.

"I hadn't thought about Afridi until I heard on the radio that he had quit," Clark was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

"We would be interested depending on what he wants. If he wants to come here, I am willing to talk to him," Clark added.

Afridi suffered a setback on Thursday when English county Hampshire said it would not be playing the all-rounder in their Twenty20 league after PCB revoked the requisite NOC.

The NOC's were issued to Afridi to play for Hampshire and in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League next month.

Afridi, one of the most explosive batsmen in the world, played for South Australia in the Big Bash two years ago and impressed all.

"He was excellent and all the reports were that he was brilliant among the team," Clark said.

Afridi's fall-out with the PCB enables him to play in the Sri Lankan, English county and Australian Twenty20 competitions.

The eight sides in this season's Big Bash are likely to be allowed four contracted Australian players and four internationals, but with only two of the latter in the team at any time.

Afridi, Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga are all understood to be on the minds of the eight city-based teams. All have played in the Big Bash before.

Big Bash sides qualify for the lucrative Twenty20 Champions League.

Expenditures Of Ijaz butt | Shocking

Afridi Tribe wants Afridi back as cricket captain

Reacting to the resignation of former cricket team captain Shahid Khan Afridi from international cricket, the elders of Khyber tribal region have demanded removal of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, elders of Afridi tribe led by Haris Khan Afridi said that resignation of Shahid Afridi was against the interests of the country.
They said that PCB had failed to select players on merit as all the decisions were taken by Ijaz Butt. The PCB usually selected players on basis of personal relations for international cricket team and sidelined experienced sportsmen, which was totally unfair and in violation of procedure and criteria, they alleged.
Owing to inexperienced sportsmen, they said, cricket morale of team was declining day by day. The selection on basis of favouritism and nepotism had caused a sense of deprivation among young and talented players, they said.
They alleged that PCB chairman created disputes among players since he had resumed charge of his office. Three captains had been changed during his three-year tenure, whereas the cricket team of neighbouring India was captained by Mahindra Singh Dhoni for the last five years.
The tribal elders claimed that cricket lovers were fans of Shahid Afridi as he was an honest and experienced player, who had never indulged in match fixing and kept the team united under his captaincy.
The unity and full concentration enabled the team to face its staunch rival India in the semi-final, they added.
They said the Shahid Afridi had tendered resignation owing to pressure from Ijaz Butt otherwise he wanted to play in the team. They demanded removal of PCB chairman and rejection of Afridi`s resignation.
The tribal elders threatened to launch a protest movement if government failed to remove PCB chairman.
Meanwhile, Afridi Students` Union also staged a protest demonstration against the resignation of Mr Afridi. The protesters termed the player an asset for the team.

Big Bash teams want Afridi despite PCB revoking NOC

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani seeks report from Sports Minister over PCB-Afridi row

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani seeks report from Sports Minister over PCB-Afridi row
Shahid Afridi’s shocking retirement followed by his media outburst against Ijaz Butt and his regime has raised several eyebrows at the highest levels. The sports minister of Pakistan has been asked by the Prime Minister’s office to submit an independent report over the issue within a week.
A federal official on Thursday, June 02, 2011, told reporters that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, has sought an independent update from the sports ministry over the recent row between the former skipper and the board.
“The sports minister was contacted by the office of the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani besides after a request of Afridi to the office of the Patron, who happens to be President Asif Ali Zardari, a similar direction has also been given to Shaukatullah,” revealed the federal official.
The flamboyant all-rounder announced retirement from all cricket on Monday, citing his differences with the board which have reached such a stage that he cannot continue under the current PCB management.
Yesterday, Afridi also requested the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, who is also Patron in Chief of Pakistan cricket, to look into the devastating situation which prevails in the national game for the sake of the sport’s future in the country.
Afridi’s squabble with the board and team management started during Pakistan’s recently concluded tour of West Indies where he had been at loggerheads with the head coach, Waqar Younis, over selection matters.
Afridi on his return home, told the media that his relations with the coach had reached such a stage that he was deliberating over missing the last two ODIs of the five-match series that Pakistan won by 3-2.
The board not only issued Afridi a show cause notice on those media statements but also sacked him from captaincy for the two-match One Day International series against Ireland, in favour of the Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
Afridi pulled out of the series citing his father’s illness and later announced retirement from cricket, however, he did say that he can take his decision back if his fans wanted him to play.
Afridi also held Butt and his poor management responsible for his retirement decision.
The latest media outburst of Afridi against Ijaz Butt also cost him his central contract besides termination of his NOC.

Top 5 Best All Rounders

Imran Khan’s views on Shahid Afridi’s Retirement – Exclusive

Shahid Afridi Best Catch in history of Cricket

Afridi faces Rs50million fine, ban

Pakistan’s retired all-rounder Shahid Afridi faces a hefty fine of Rs50 million and a minimum 15-match ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following his controversial decision to retire from international cricket and breaching various clauses in the code of conduct.
Afridi announced his international retirement protesting the PCB’s decision to remove him from One-Day International captaincy as well as the treatment meted out to him. The board, in response to the harsh criticism and the choice of words used against it, suspended his central contract, revoked all NOCs handed out to him and sent him a notice.
While Afridi has sent a reply to the notice, he faces heavy penalties unless the all-rounder and the board find an amicable solution to the problem. Afridi, though, has contacted President Asif Ali Zardari, also the chief patron of the board, to intervene and resolve the situation.
“Afridi faces a hefty penalty given his breaches,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “He gave the board no other choice as discipline comes first and foremost.
“Penalising the player due to ill-discipline is mandatory as his recent behaviour crossed all the limits.”
No Hampshire for Afridi
England county Hampshire have released Afridi from his Twenty20 contract after the England and Wales Cricket (ECB) suspended his registration as an overseas player following the PCB’s decision to revoke the NOC.
At the same time, Afridi’s future with the Sri Lankan Premier League is also in doubt. The league’s spokesperson Bryan Thomas, while talking to The Express Tribune, confirmed that they have received the PCB’s letter but are yet to take any action on the issue.
The league is scheduled to take place end of July and start of August but without the required NOC from the PCB, Afridi will not be able to take part in it.
Selector hits out at Afridi
Meanwhile, national selector Mohammad Ilyas hit out at Afridi for blasting the cricket board, insisting that the all-rounder must think before making any harsh statement.
“Being such a big name, he was given enormous backing,” said Ilyas. “Otherwise a player who lets the country down on various occasions is not given such backing. The PCB backed him and appointed him captain. He wouldn’t be in the playing-eleven if it wasn’t for the PCB.”
Afridi had said that Ilyas has a one-point agenda and that was to get his son-in-law [Imran Farhat] included in the squad.
“Ilyas did nothing but conspire against me. He just wanted Farhat in the squad.”
Imran Khan
“The board is not run like an institution. Afridi feels injustice is done so he has taken a decision. Just recently everyone was praising Afridi after he led Pakistan to the semi-final of the World Cup and then suddenly this happened.”
Iqbal Qasim
“Afridi shouldn’t have crossed the line. But if he had made the mistake, being the captain the PCB should have handled it in a professional manner. Pakistan cricket is suffering from various problems and the PCB-Afridi issue has made us laughing stock in the world.”

Hamsphire urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reverse their ban on Afridi

Hampshire ask PCB for Afridi re-think

LONDON: Hamsphire urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reverse their ban on former captain Shahid Afridi playing abroad as they began the defence of their English Twenty20 title without the all-rounder.

Former Pakistan one-day captain Afridi had his central contract suspended by the PCB on Tuesday, having announced his retirement from international cricket.

That move came after the 31-year-old was stripped of the Pakistan one-day captaincy last month following a spat with coach Waqar Younis.

The PCB has also revoked all no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the player, meaning a "disappointed" Afridi, widely praised for his role in leading Pakistan to the semi-finals of the recent World Cup in the subcontinent, will not be officially permitted to play overseas.

"It is with regret that Hampshire Cricket announces that Shahid Afridi - the Royals' overseas signing for the Friends Life t20 competition -- will not be available to play in tonight's match against the Somerset Sabres at The Rose Bowl," said a Hampshire statement on Wednesday.

"It follows the decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board to revoke their No Objection Certificate, thus withdrawing their consent for Shahid to take part in the competition.

"The club would like to make it clear that although we respect this decision we have been, and continue to, urge the PCB to rethink this matter, and we are keen to have Shahid playing for the Royals at some point in the season.

"Hampshire Cricket will be making no further comment on this issue at this time."

The southern club later made light of Afridi's absence to beat Somerset by seven wickets in a repeat of last year's final.

Afridi, a hugely popular big-hitting all-rounder, whose leg-spin has become arguably even more important than his batting, had also been due to play in the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League in July.

He had said he would not play under the current PCB set-up, headed by chairman Ijaz Butt, and accused the administration of mistreating the players.

He also lashed out at Waqar for undue meddling in team selection.

"Everyone should do his job and must be held accountable for that," Afridi said, without naming anyone, on his return from the West Indies where he led the team to a 3-2 one-day series victory last month.

When asked about his dispute with Waqar, Afridi replied: "The differences are not at a stage where they cannot be solved."

Afridi withdrew from Pakistan's latest matches, a one-day series against Ireland which finished in a 2-0 win on Monday, to visit his ailing father in the United States

Afridi, retirement is not the answer

I share the sentiments of all those people who fanatically worship Shahid Afridi for the performer he is in the world of cricket. I, being an avid follower of the sport, have always believed that Afridi is a match-winning player who could give a pounding to the best bowlers of the world and baffle the most stringent batting line-up with his variation of spin, arm-balls and googlies.

Afridi honestly earned every ounce of our respect after he steered the Pakistan cricket team to propel them into the semi-final of the World Cup with India. Much to our distaste, he did not seize the prospect to down the arch-rivals and bring the trophy home but came back home standing tall and proud for his achievements and gave us something to cheer about.

However, as charismatic as Afridi is, he has not matured over his fourteen-years-long career into the cricketer most people would like him to be – he is as reckless and uncontrolled as the fire cracker he was when he was sixteen. One would think that it was about time he grew up.

Afridi has been a loyal and sincere player throughout his career but has always been a victim of severe criticism from his seniors. Wasim Akram, under whom Afridi began his flourishing line of business, always said that he could never comply with strategies. He would complain that every time Afridi was sent out to bat, he would tell him to take his time on the pitch, follow the game plan and then try to score runs – but Afridi never listened. He would lash out at every ball, in the hope of making contact and in most cases threw his wicket away in the process.

Afridi announced his retirement from international cricket claiming that he would not play for Pakistan under the current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) setup and hinted at the present dissection of the sport due to a Punjab lobby being established against the Karachi players. Whether true or not, I wish Afridi would come forward and enlighten his followers about the matter instead of vexing their loyalties by making slapdash comments to the media.

I would have expected Afridi to put all the politics aside and emerge as the bigger person under the gruesome state of affairs. I thought there was a true leader in him just as there was in Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. I hoped that he would continue to storm the nation with his feats after being mentored by Wasim just as Wasim had done when Imran guided him. I imagined Afridi to retire like Shoaib Akhtar, with tears of love for the game in his eyes, and not the detestation that he portrayed.

Still, for people like Afridi, our public is programmed to conveniently forget all those dreadful expositions he enacted on and off the field and instead cherish the few good memories he has given us. On behalf of his stanch cohorts, I urge Afridi to reconsider his statements, put his ego aside and serve the team regardless of his discrepancies with the PCB. This is too sour a note for a talent like him to withdraw

Afridi admits violating PCB code

Shahid Afridi has replied to the PCB's showcause notice and accepted that he has violated the code of conduct, further stating his willingness to face whatever disciplinary action will come his way.

"We have received Shahid Afridi's reply and he has accepted violation of the code of conduct," Nadeem Sarwar, the PCB media manager, told ESPNcricinfo. It is believed that while accepting the breaches in the reply, Afridi explained the cause of his actions and specifically, going to the media and announcing his retirement. Afridi is said to have been upset about learning of his removal from the ODI captaincy through media reports and so responded by going to the media first himself.

ESPNcricinfo also understands Afridi has expressed a desire that his situation with Hampshire be resolved. Afridi was due to play for the county in the Friends Life t20 but the PCB revoked his No-Objection Certificate leading to, for the moment, a suspension of his registration as an overseas player by the ECB. The ECB and PCB have been in touch through a busy day, and sources close to Afridi say there is a possibility the deal could still go ahead if the boards come to a resolution, though PCB officials insist it will not be as straightforward.

As far as the reply is concerned, the board's legal advisor will now be consulted over its contents before a way forward emerges. Though the advisor, Taffazul Rizvi, has not yet received the letter, he said the act of the response and acceptance doesn't condone the breach itself. "When you accept or own an act, that is tantamount to a mitigating circumstance for a disciplinary tribunal while passing a judgment," he told ESPNcricinfo. Essentially, the disciplinary process will now be carried out to its legal and logical end, which could mean the board appointing an inquiry officer to investigate the matter further.

On Thursday, in any case, the board will officially begin to look into the root cause of the whole affair: Afridi's spat with coach Waqar Younis. Board officials will meet Waqar first and discuss issues arising from the management report of the tour to the Caribbean. It was during the ODIs that Afridi and Waqar clashed over selection, one dressing room dispute in particular that officials are concerned about, which was leaked out to the media. Intikhab Alam, the team manager who tried to mediate between the two on tour, will also be interviewed. Once that is out of the way, the Afridi issue will come back on the agenda, presumably with more background information in the bag.

Beyond that the picture remains unclear. Afridi has stressed his retirement is conditional and not permanent, though earlier today he said again that he would not play under this administration. One senior board official told ESPNcricinfo that they still considered Afridi an asset to the national side but insisted that he go through the entire disciplinary procedure for a list of breaches and be punished if necessary.

Not affected by Afridi's decision: Butt

A defiant Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt on Wednesday said he is not affected by Shahid Afridi’s decision to quit the game till the time he was incharge of the PCB and insisted that the temperamental player will have to explain his shock retirement.

“(Do it immediately) Sau Bismillah to him if he does not want to play under my Chairmanship,” Butt told the media when asked to comment on Afridi’s remarks that he would not play under the present cricket set-up.

A stubborn-looking Butt made it clear that Afridi had violated several clauses of his code of conduct not for the first time in recent times.

“He has violated the contract codes and like any other player he now has to explain his actions to the board,” Butt said.

The board yesterday started disciplinary action against Afridi for his sudden decision to retire from international cricket and for making disparaging comments about the board and its officials.

As part of the disciplinary measures, the board has revoked his NOC’s, cancelled his central contract and issued him a show cause notice to which he has to respond within seven days and also suspended all payments to him as part of his central contract.

Support for Afridi

The feud between the board and Afridi has already started becoming a political issue with the Pakistan sports minister Engineer Shaukatullah saying he is with the player.

“I am with Afridi and will support him in this issue.

Ijaz Butt has been running the board like his own kingdom and it is time he was held accountable for his actions and sacked,” the minister said.

He said he would be speaking to the Prime Minister to apprise him of the shambles in which Pakistan cricket was and to take steps to restore Afridi as captain and change the board set-up.

The heads of the National Assembly and Senate standing committees on sports, Iqbal Mohammad Ali and Ghaffar Qureshi have also come out in favour of the temperamental all-rounder blaming Butt for the fresh crisis in Pakistan cricket.

“These players are our assets and they are not being treated justly by Butt and the board and there is a limit to this problem of senior players being disrespected by the board. We are going to ask the government to take immediate notice and change the board set up,” Iqbal said.

Qureshi insisted Afridi remained a valuable player and had committed no crime to be treated this way

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Funny answer of shahid afridi on reporters question.

I Appeal President Asif Ali Zardari to take control of cricket matters :Shahid Afridi

KARACHI: Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi has appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to take control of cricket matters, as issues can turn worse otherwise.
While talking to Geo News representative Murtaza Ali Shah in Hampshire, Afridi said that he has already played under the supervision of his seniors and can continue doing that in future as well, but compromising on self-respect is not possible.
Therefore, he has appealed to the President to urgently intervene in the matters related to the game to save the sport from getting into more crises.
While criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Afridi said that he was tolerating ill schemes against him for a long time but there is always a limit to everything. He said that he has never violated the code of conduct in any of his international tours infact there were rumours to replace him. He said that he paid the price of spilling the truth and the board members did not approve of it, as there are members in the committee who want to bring their relatives in the field.
The all-rounder said that the entire nation prays for him whenever he is in the field. He said that he can return to the team if everyone remains concerned with one’s own work.
Afridi said that national heroes deserve respect and it imperative to subside biasness in order to bring about a positive change.

Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Shahid Afridi Decided to take international cricket Retirement telephonic talk to geo news

Breaking news: Shahid Afridi announces retirement from Cricket

Shahid Afridi the former and most popular Pakistani Cricket Captain has just announced his retirement from Karachi. Reported GEO News some moments ago.