I have to say that I am totally perplexed by a story which has been doing the rounds in the news media and this is in regards to a bizarre request by Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi for a farewell match. Now let’s be honest here and recognise the fact that Afridi has served Pakistan well in the past. However, let us also remember that Afridi has announced his intention to retire on a number of occasions which doesn’t help his case. On top of that, when a player wants to play a final game, he would like to play that match in front of home crowds. Since there is no international cricket being played in Pakistan at the moment, how exactly will he have a farewell game in front of a home crowd? This is exactly why I feel that Afridi’s request should not be entertained and if there is a need for a special match such as an exhibition game in Pakistan or a game dedicated to Afridi at the Pakistan Super League (PSL), then that would make more sense. There is no doubt that Afridi feels strongly about being awarded a special farewell but surely the better way would have been to go in private to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) instead of playing this out in front of the media and thereby putting himself and the PCB in a very difficult position. That way if the PCB had declined his request, he could have shrugged his shoulders and moved on which is not an option for him now. The other problem for the PCB is that Afridi has said he would retire on many occasions but not done so; why would the PCB then take that risk again by announcing a farewell game for him when he himself is not sure about it? I do wonder if this is all about a special retirement gift by the PCB which was similar to what Inzamamul Haq asked for and received in his retirement game. There is absolutely no sense in an international retirement game for Afridi and one hopes that better sense prevails on all sides. Saeed Ajmal’s future: And then we have the curious case of Saeed Ajmal who has no desire to retire but there is talk of him being given a farewell as well. Apart from the comical aspect of the whole saga, everyone needs to understand that it is the chief selector and his colleagues who have to lay down the law here and inform Ajmal, if they feel that Ajmal remains a valuable asset for the Pakistan team or not. The PCB can stay out of this topic and not worry about discussing a farewell game for Ajmal as it will become self-evident when the selectors inform Ajmal. Confusion will reign supreme for all concerned if the selectors don’t make this clear to Ajmal. Unwise statements from BCCI and Indian players: The recent spate of statements by the BCCI chief Anurag Thakur and some players on the Indian side and reaction by Pakistan counterparts is in poor taste and not sensible. Some rather disturbing statements about India not willing to play Pakistan in ICC tournaments should be countered by the ICC which is the governing body for world cricket. Their failure to resolve this type of Indian recalcitrance in the past has caused unnecessary confusion and they really need to step up and put an end to this nonsense using their authority. For me the bigger influence on the matter will come from the ICC’s officially appointed broadcasters. In the past, they have always insisted on India-Pakistan games in major ICC tournaments due to the massive amounts of revenues which are earned in such games. I would love to see their reaction as I believe they are also from India. I am sure they will put some influence on the BCCI to come to their senses as this is about running a profitable business for them. As far as the statements about not wanting to play Pakistan from the likes of Gautam Gambhir and others are concerned, I would like to remind them that at some point in the future, just like in the past, they may well play Pakistan again if the situation returns to normal again. At that juncture, their statements possibly made in the heat of the moment will look very silly so they need to think carefully before saying such things. The meteoric rise of Babar Azam: Whatever one says about the quality of opposition which Babar Azam has faced in the UAE against the West Indies, the fact remains that three consecutive ODI hundreds against any team are no mean feat. He must be brimming with confidence at this point and this would be an ideal time for him to make an appearance in Test matches as well. At this point, I will urge a note of caution for all those hell-bent upon comparing Babar Azam’s talent with the likes of Virat Kohli and other accomplished players. Simply speaking, don’t compare him to anyone but recognise the fact that he has talent and let him work on his game by throwing him a challenge to prove himself. Comparisons with others at this stage of his career is of no use to anyone. The Mickey Arthur effect: To make a judgement on head coach Mickey Arthur’s tenure so far is not wise as I believe he has some time to go before we can declare his reign of power as an unqualified success. However, there is no doubt in my mind that he has made a significant difference to the manner in which we bat in ODIs. Gone are the days, it seems, when our batsmen were struggling to rotate the strike. What we see now is a new found emphasis on singles and doubles, followed by a boundary or a six to help the scoreboard along. And to me this is a good start for Arthur. (courtesy Pakpassion.com)