Afridi will be replaced as Twenty20 captain after the World Twenty20
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has confirmed that Shahid Afridi will not be the country’s Twenty20 captain after the conclusion of the World Twenty20.
Afridi is set to announce his retirement from international cricket after the ongoing event, but should he decide not to, Khan admitted that his place in the Twenty20 team will not be guaranteed.
In the two matches he has played, Afridi has scored 57 runs at an average of 28.50 and taken two wickets at an average of 26.
“He is captain till the World Cup under this understanding and he has said he will retire after the event,” Khan said. “Even if he changes his mind and wants to carry on we will have to see whether he can be picked as a player or not.”
However, Khan made it clear that the PCB had no regrets in appointing Afridi as Twenty20 captain last year.
“Afridi is a iconic figure in Pakistan and he has won us matches in the past some on his own. His choice was logical,” he said. “It is natural that whenever the team loses a big match there is criticism directed at him. But I think at this he needs the support of everyone.”
Meanwhile, Khan also conceded that the PCB are considering axing head coach Waqar Younis after the World Twenty20.
“We are looking at it. Waqar (Younis)’s contract is until June,” he said. “I discussed the matter with Wasim Akram and some other senior players and they said whether we appoint a foreigner or have a local coach he should be able to produce best results from the team. Personally I don’t see anything wrong in having a foreign coach as we have done in the past.
“Bob Woolmer was our best coach. I think the players need a cultural shock so we might have a foreign coach or a local coach.”