Afridi: Unfair to criticise Misbah after a bad series
Pakistan veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi has put his backing behind much-maligned skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, saying the calls for his resignation are premature, and that Misbah is vital to the team.
Pakistan veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi has put his backing behind much-maligned skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, saying the calls for his resignation are premature, and that Misbah is vital to the team.
The skipper had a dire series in Sri Lanka, failing to score a half century in eight innings on the tour across all formats, but Afridi feels Misbah is more often than not the guy expected to save the side in a collapse, and is vital to the side.
Afridi, who was the skipper before Misbah took over in 2011, insisted: "Misbah has been leading the side well since the last few years and he has also been our most prolific batsman. I think we all need to support him even if he has had one bad series.
"It is unfair to criticize him so much after just one bad series as captain and batsman. He has been a stable influence on the team and he needs support at this stage for the World Cup.
"I have no issues playing under Misbah's captaincy because he has been there for a while now and has been performing consistently since 2010. We depend on Misbah and few other seniors.
"But it is time the junior players also put up their hands and took responsibility to perform. If we play as a unit, I am sure we will start doing well again and I just want to see the team winning again before the World Cup."
While Afridi hasn't had particular issues with Misbah, he did with coach Waqar Younis, who was the coach in 2011 when Afridi was stripped of the captaincy. But he says they are on the same page these days, under Waqar's second reign.
Afridi added: "Waqar worked very hard with the team in Sri Lanka and the players got a lot of support from the team management even under pressure. There is lot of team spirit in this side and I am confident we can start winning again soon it is a matter of time.
"I enjoyed working with Waqar. He is a different person now and you can see the team management just wants the team to click and do well."
Latest
-
NewsMiddlesex relegated from Division One as Kent survive on dramatic final day
Middlesex fell just short of the victory they needed at Nottinghamshire to stay up instead of Kent.
-
IndiaEngland captain Jos Buttler believes India are favourites for World Cup
The last three editions of the Cricket World Cup – India in 2011, Australia in 2015 and England in 2019 – have been won by the host nation.
-
County CricketSurrey retain County Championship title after Essex batting collapse
The holders have been crowned champions for the 21st time.
-
County CricketGeoffrey Boycott: Everybody in Newcastle hates Mike Ashley amid Headingley links
The PA news agency understands the Frasers Group, where Ashley is chief executive, is one of the parties interested in purchasing Headingley.
-
County CricketEssex’s slim hopes of winning County Championship dented by Northamptonshire
Essex need at least 400 to have any chance of claiming top spot.
-
EnglandMatthew Mott: Jofra Archer ‘desperate to play but realistic’ ahead of World Cup
The 28-year-old is not expected to be ready to return to action until the tournament is close to a conclusion.
-
-
County CricketUmpire Sue Redfern makes history in County Championship match at Glamorgan
Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class match in England and Wales.
-
EnglandEngland’s summer ends in soggy fashion and prompts a call for innovation
The one-day international against Ireland at Bristol was abandoned.
-
EnglandEngland win ODI series against Ireland after play is abandoned at Bristol
Ben Duckett had scored a century and Phil Salt 61 off just 28 balls before rain stopped play.