PAKISTAN: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is confident of making a successful comeback in the one-day internationals, targeting key performances in the upcoming five-match ODI series against South Africa, according to a source.
This has come in the light of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chief selector Iqbal Qasim describing the recall of the all-rounder as his ‘last chance’, indicating that failure to perform again might bring Afridi’s career in the format to an end, the Express Tribune reports.
According to the source, Afridi was concentrating on doing well in South Africa and is not thinking about failure and its repercussions.
The source added that Afridi, who loved a challenge and has performed under similar circumstances in the past, wanted to justify his selection by making another successful comeback against the Proteas.
The source further said that Afridi has been working hard to improve in both batting and bowling and is optimistic about playing against a tough opposition in South Africa.
Former Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan has also supported Afridi’s selection and said that it is a boost for the team which has struggled in the Test series against the Proteas.
Slamming the ‘last chance’ remarks of the selector, Khan said that Afridi may be inconsistent but he is a match winning all-rounder and added that when the star all-rounder performed his team ended with a win most of the time.
Don’t put pressure on me, says Shahid Afridi
Flamboyant all-rounder asked national selectors to not put pressure on him by making unsolicited statements and also made it clear that the decision to quit the game remains his prerogative.
After recalling Afridi in the one-day squad for the series against South Africa, chief selector Iqbal Qasim had said the all-rounder will have to justify his selection by putting up a good show.
“I don’t know in what context or scenario Iqbal Qasim said these things for me. But no one should put pressure on me,” Afridi told reporters.
“My fans still want me to continue playing and I will decide myself till when to continue playing or when to leave,” Afridi added.
Afridi said he was determined to do well for the country and no one needs to remind him that.
“I have always said that I will never give anyone a chance to tell me that it is time for me to go. I am going to South Africa in a confident state of mind and I am ready for the challenge and to perform well as I have done in the past,” he said.
The chief selector’s remarks about Afridi generated a lot of debate in the cricket circles with many former players and critics insisting that Qasim had made unnecessary comments.
Asked about his struggle in batting, Afridi said one couldn’t play aggressive all the time batting at number seven. (Agencies)
