LAHORE: Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has stepped down as Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain but will not retire from T20 internationals. In a statement posted to his official Twitter account on Sunday, Afridi said: “Today I wish to inform my fans in Pakistan and all over the world that I am relinquishing the captaincy of the T20 Pakistan team of my own volition.” He, however, said he intended to continue playing cricket for Pakistan. “For me, it was a great honour to lead my country in all three formats of the game,” he added, requesting his fans to continue supporting him during his future performances for Pakistan as a player and in all other arenas of the game the world over. “I would also like to inform that InshaAllah I intend to continue playing the game for my country and league cricket all over the world.”
After the 2015 World Cup, Afridi, 36, had announced his intention to retire from international cricket following the World T20 in India. Earlier this year, however, he stated he was facing “huge pressure” from family and friends to not do so. Afridi was heavily criticised as a leader following Pakistan’s poor performances in the recent Asia Cup and the World T20. Pakistan’s only victories in eight games across those two tournaments were against United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
After Team Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the World T20 in India, Afridi took to Facebook last week to ask forgiveness from cricketing fans all over the country for what he termed his failure to meet the nation’s expectations. Afridi and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik both scored less than 100 runs in four World T20 matches and failed to take responsibility when the side needed it. ‘Boom Boom’ was off colour with the ball as well, and his side failed to make their presence felt at the world event and crashed out in the group stage.
Afridi had succeeded Mohammad Hafeez as T20 captain in September 2014. He won 11 out of 24 matches in that time. His batting and bowling form has also been dipping recently. Over the past 12 months, he has averaged 14.61 with the bat and 34 with the ball. Overall, he has led Pakistan in 43 matches, won 19 and lost 23. Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam in his report has termed Afridi a ‘clueless’ captain in the wake of the team’s early exit from the World T20. Alam laid heavy criticism on Afridi for his poor on-field tactics and off-field behaviour that brought undue controversies on the team. Pakistan head-coach Waqar Younis has also criticised Afridi in his recently leaked report after the disastrous exit from the World T20. The former fast-bowler blamed ‘poor captaincy’ for losses in the recent series against New Zealand and dismal performances in the Asia Cup and the World T20. “Over several occasions, I had made it clear that Afridi was not performing with the bat, ball or as a captain but I was not listened to,” Waqar mentioned in the report.
A strange breed: Afridi has been a fan favourite since he burst onto the scene in 1996, striking a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in only his second match to set a world record that was unbeaten for 17 years. He became known as a bowling all-rounder in the second half of his career and was instrumental in Pakistan’s early successes in Twenty20, including their 2009 victory. Form many, Afridi is a strange breed, having foot-in-the-mouth disease. Controversies never stayed far away and shadowed him more so when he was the captain. Off-the-cuff remarks are his habit and passed without the slightest of repentance. On the field Afridi embroiled himself in unnecessary fracas on several occasions. There were numerous other times during his career when he was in the news for all the wrong reasons.
He is arguably the most recognisable face of Pakistan cricket since Imran Khan retired from the sport. During his prime years, bowlers around the globe feared him more than any other big hitter of a cricket ball. The vast number of 476 sixes that Afridi thrashed in all three formats of international cricket comfortably cleared the playing arena. His 351 sixes in 398 one-day internationals are a world record by a long distance and unlikely to be surpassed yet. And only Misbahul Haq, Younus Khan, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan have hit more sixes for Pakistan in the Test arena than Afridi’s 52. The mercurial cricketer played 27 Tests for Pakistan before retiring from the format in 2010 with 1716 runs and 48 wickets. In 398 ODIs, he has 8064 runs and 395 wickets, while 98 T20 international appearances have fetched him 1405 runs and 97 wickets. The national side’s next assignment is an away tour to England which kicks off in July this year and will consist of four Tests, five ODIs and a one-off Twenty20 match.
PCB chief praises decision: PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan praised Afridi’s decision to quit Pakistan captaincy while talking to reporters outside Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. “I respect Afridi’s decision,” he said. “He demonstrated maturity and sense of responsibility by apologizing to the nation after the World T20,” he added. The former diplomat also hinted that Sarfaraz Ahmed can be elected as Pakistan’s next T20 captain.