Thaindian News

Karachi, May 19 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday replaced Shahid Afridi with Misbah-ul-Haq as the team captain for a brief series in Ireland later this month.

The decision to remove Afridi came just weeks after he flamboyantly led Pakistan to an ODI series-winning triumph against the West Indies in the Caribbean. However, Afridi has been retained in the 16-man squad which will play two One-day Internationals against Ireland May 28 and 30 in Belfast.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt did not give any specific reason why Afridi, who was hailed for his stellar performance and good captaincy during the 2011 World Cup, was replacd.

“Afridi has been retained as a player in the One-day team (for Ireland) but the captaincy has been given to Misbah,” Butt told reporters at the PCB headquarters in Lahore.

Apparently Afridi’s tiff with Pakistan coach waqar Younis is said to be the reason behind the move. Afridi, when he returned from the Caribbean earlier this month, had hinted that Waqar was trying to call the shots in team matters. Though Afridi didn’t take any names, his comments forced the PCB to issue him a show-cause notice.

Afridi is currently in Houston, where he is visiting his ailing father. The all-rounder said he hasn’t heard about his removal but was available for national duty in any capacity.

“I’m always ready to give my best for Pakistan in whatever role is given to me,” he told IANS on the phone.

Afridi and Younis Khan, a former Pakistan captain, are the only two additions in the squad that is currently featuring in a two-Test series against the West Indies. Younis was a part of the Test squad but had to rush back home after his brother’s death earlier this month.

Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Taufiq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Salman, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Tanvir Ahmed, Hammad Azam.