Afridi “not worried” about losing Pakistan captaincy
January 19th, 2011 - 5:51 pm ICT by ANIKarachi, Jan 19(ANI): Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi has said he is not worried about not being named the Pakistan captain for the World Cup because it is a job he never coveted.
“I am not worried about the captaincy, it never worries me,” the Daily Times quoted Afridi, as telling reporters before leaving for New Zealand.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not announce the captain while naming the 15-member final squad for next month’s World Cup, which is to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
According to a well-informed source, the decision to hold back the announcement of the captain came after chief selector Mohsin Khan met with the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt earlier in the day in Lahore, and then announced the team after consulting the other selectors.
“It is nothing but a way to give out a clear message to Afridi that he should not take captaincy for granted and remain in line with board policies,” the source said.
This decision clearly indicates that Test captain Misbah remains a strong choice to lead the one-day squad as well, after his successful run as Test skipper against South Africa and New Zealand.
Afridi, who will be part of the Pakistan team for World Cup, said that being named to play for his country was the most important thing for him.
“I have never run after the captaincy in my entire career. It is something for the cricket board to decide. If they feel I am the right man they will appoint me and if they don’t they will make someone else captain,” said Afridi, whose position looked precarious following the team’s 2-1 defeat in the Twenty20 series in New Zealand last month.
The 30-year-old, who has been criticised for his leading abilities, behaviour and attitude, said he did not feel under any undue pressure. “I am a senior professional and I know what I have to do. I have to lead the team to win the series and perform well as player,” he said.
Under Afridi’s captaincy, Pakistan will play a six-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 22 in Wellington.
“I know our winning the series will be very important because if we win in New Zealand it will give us a boost for the World Cup,” said Afridi. (ANI)
- PCB boss Butt 'secretly' leaves for NZ to decide on Pak captain for World Cup - Jan 21, 2011
- Akram backs PCB's decision to retain Afridi as Pak ODI skipper - Jan 15, 2011
- Former players blast PCB for not naming Pak captain for World Cup - Jan 19, 2011
- PCB most likely to retain Afridi as Pak captain for World Cup 2011 - Feb 01, 2011
- PCB divided over retaining Afridi as Pak captain for World Cup - Jan 17, 2011
- Shahid Afridi retained as Pak captain for ICC World Cup: Intikhab Alam - Feb 04, 2011
- Afridi's loss in NZ will be Misbah's gain in Pak WC captaincy issue: Aamir Sohail - Jan 27, 2011
- PCB chief leaves for New Zealand to decide on WC captain - Jan 20, 2011
- PCB's decision not to name Pak skipper for World Cup "strange practice": Akram - Jan 20, 2011
- Pakistan announce World Cup squad without a captain - Jan 18, 2011
- Zardari, Gilani felicitate Pak cricket team for series victory against New Zealand - Feb 04, 2011
- PCB issues notice to Waqar Younis for violating board's new media policy - Jan 20, 2011
- Afridi to captain at World Cup - Feb 04, 2011
- Afridi in Pakistan to discuss World Cup probables - Jan 02, 2011
- Afridi in Pakistan to discuss World Cup probables (Lead, Superseding earlier story) - Jan 02, 2011
Tags: attitude, bangladesh, board policies, jan 19, lahore, limited overs, misbah, mohsin khan, new zealand, pakistan captain, pakistan cricket board, pakistan cricket board pcb, pakistan team, right man, selectors, shahid afridi, skipper, south africa, undue pressure, world cup