Thaindian News

Karachi, Nov 7 (IANS) Former Pakistan captain and coach Waqar Younis Monday said that Shahid Afridi’s frequent outbursts in the media are hurting the country’s image and he should focus on his cricket rather than “a lot of talking.”

Waqar and Afridi have not shared the best of relations ever since Pakistan’s tour to the West Indies in May when they both had differences in selection matters as coach and captain of the team. Afridi was stripped off captaincy after that tour and Waqar resigned from the post in September.

Waqar said it was time Afridi stopped criticising people and focussed on his cricket.

“All the time he is criticising somebody and using distasteful language. It is time he just kept his mouth shut and focused on his cricket,” Younis was quoted as saying by Geo News.

“To me it seems as if he always on the lookout for cheap publicity by making unwarranted and unhealthy comments about somebody or someone.

“For months now he has been criticising Ijaz Butt (former PCB chief) and saying all sorts of things like Butt is old and he should go home, this is not the way to talk about a former player and head of the board. He has problems with everyone and wants the world to believe he is the victim.”

Afridi, however, did not react on Waqar’s comments.

“I don’t want to make any comments on Waqar has said. I just want to play cricket for my country,” he said.

Afridi recently came out of self-imposed retirement and is in the Pakistan one-day squad for series against Sri Lanka.