Image courtesy of: The Express Tribune
Afridi lavished praise on India for the way they dealt with the loss of their senior players
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has announced that India’s talent depths stretch so far that they could easily have two teams representing the country at the international level.
Afridi also praised India for not succumbing to the pressure of losing so many of their senior players.
“Look at the way they have rebuilt their team even after the retirement of some of their top players,” Afridi said. “The talent they have is impressive and they can easily make two teams.”
Afridi also called on the Pakistan national selectors to treat some of the more senior players in the side, like Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan, with a little more dignity and respect after they were snubbed for the ongoing series against the West Indies.
The all-rounder added that he would announce his retirement when he felt the time was right and not be forced into it.
“I am ready to go because every player has his time and has to retire,” he said. “Only thing I want is that even if the selectors or board feels my time is over they should just call me and tell me what they feel. I have no problems with that. I just want to be given respect and dignity that every senior player deserves after serving the country for so many years.”
While Afridi is desperate to represent Pakistan at the 2015 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, he noted that if he was not in good form leading up to the tournament, then he would hang up his boots for good.
“I have a target to play the 2015 World Cup but even I know that I must perform and remain fit to achieve that target,” he said.
The 33-year-old also advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to send all out of form players to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore so that they can train and find their touch once again.
“I was dropped because of poor form but did anyone tell me go to the national academy and did anyone try to work with me to find out what was wrong with me,” he said.
The ex-captain announced that if the PCB were to ask him to lead the national team once again, he would not hesitate to accept.
“If the board offers me such a responsibility again I will definitely talk to them because I love to accept challenges and captaincy was always a big source of pride for me,” he said.
Afridi was stripped of the ODI and Twenty20 captaincy by former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt due to disciplinary measures after the 2011 World Cup.
Afridi’s dismissal caused him to announce his retirement, which he later reversed after Butt was replaced by the now suspended Zaka Ashraf.
The 33-year-old admitted that being stripped of the captaincy had hurt and added that he was infuriated to be treated in such a way after sacrificing so much for the Pakistan team.
“I have never given anything less than 100 per cent when playing for Pakistan and after so much hard work to built the team after the spot fixing scandal I was hurt the way I was treated,” he said. “But I decided to fight on and not give up.”