Afridi: I curse myself for not finishing

Cricket365

All-rounder Shahid Afridi has attributed a successful return to Pakistan's limited-overs fold to sterner self-examination.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi has attributed a successful return to Pakistan's limited-overs fold to sterner self-examination.

Afridi was dropped from the squad for the Champions Trophy earlier this year, but enjoyed a string of decent performances during the recent ODI and T20I series against the West Indies.

"Now whenever I get out, I talk to myself and I curse myself for not finishing off a match if I am batting. This self-assessment therapy has helped me a lot," said Afridi.

"But now when I am batting I am eager to finish off matches myself. I keep on talking to myself and even if I get out, I keep analysing my my batting."

"I will know when the time is right for me to go retire. Right now the time is good for me and I can carry on performing in Twenty20 and ODI cricket."

While the veteran Misbah-ul-Haq has handed the Twent20 International captaincy to batsman Mohammad Hafeez, he will continue to lead the Test and ODI unit, including next month's full tour of Zimbabwe.

"Misbah is an excellent planner but unfortunately not everything you plan is executed all the time. And one can't expect him to treat other players like schoolchildren," concluded Afridi.