Afridi will play decisive role at World T20, says Hafeez
“Shahid Afridi is a big match winner for us and hopefully he will deliver for us once more,” Hafeez said. -Photo by AP
COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez expects Shahid Afridi to recover from injury in time to play a decisive role in his country’s attempt to win another ICC World Twenty20.
Afridi is hoping to overcome a thumb injury before the tournament, which runs from September 18 to October 7 in Sri Lanka.
“Shahid Afridi is a big match winner for us and hopefully he will deliver for us once more,” Hafeez told reporters on Wednesday.
Pakistan open their Group D campaign on Sept. 23, when they meet New Zealand at Pallekele. The third team in their group is Bangladesh.
Hafeez believes Pakistan are well placed to repeat their 2009 World Twenty20 success, particularly because his players are familiar with the Sri Lankan pitches and conditions.
“Pallekele will suit us because the ball does a lot there,” he said. “The seamers will benefit and we should do well.
“We have a good bowling unit with Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Sami and Sohail Tanvir, who is difficult to deal with with his unusual action.
“The reason the Pakistan Cricket Board allowed everybody to go to Sri Lanka and play in the SLPL (Sri Lanka Premier League) was to get used to the conditions, especially in Pallekele and Colombo.”
Hafeez said the appointment of Javed Miandad as Pakistan’s batting coach would give them a major boost.
“Javed will share with us some valuable inputs and it’s a good thing,” Hafeez said.
“Whatever he tells us, we look forward to it.”
Afridi is not a match winner. Come out of your dreams its morning wake up.
This team is bench of jokers who play for entertainment. they don’t care about emotion of nation. They are few guys who are saying that Misbah is only sane guy. Yes he is true professional, always score runs in Pakistan crucial matches then make sure pakistan losses that match for example T20 worldcup 2007 and Semifinal of World cup 2011.Do you know why Pakistan won the T20 world cup in 2009 because Misbah did not bat. We won well before him.
His absence would not matter because in kali billi of Pakistan Cricket. I don’t aspect this pakistan team to win because there is not dependable Batsman in team but you never know about about the the bench of jokes they can accomplish most difficult task quite easily.
Certainly AFRIDI is a big matches winning player, and he will deliver at difficult times against good teams as he has done before with his BOWLING, BATTING, & FIELDING. This is the time we need to backup our team, and wish them well. No Matter who ever is playing the aim should be one and that is to bring T20 Cup Home. InshaAllah everyone will contribute and will play a key role, My BEST wishes and prays are with GREEN SHIRTS. LOVE YOU ALL.. GOOD LUCK!!
afridi getting old…but saying he is no more a good player..i think this is really pathetic from u guys…he will once again inshaAllah wil win the WC for us…he and ajmal will be the next wasim waqar in spin form…good luck Pakistan!!!
Afridi let your injury go on and on and on and on….
M. Sami, A. Razak should NOT be in the team.
and please you young cricketers when u mention legends like mr javed miandad, dont just say ” javed” , you it will take lots of hard work and years to be there where he left cricket.
Afridi did well for Younis ( with bat and ball) and help him win T20 world cup in 2009. of course Younis did thank him by getting T/20 and 1 Day captainship. Afiridi responds when he in charge. Nor sure what incentive Hafeez is to offer to make him perform.
Misbah will be called again but it will be too late
T20 is not the game of olds. Let them retire even from 50 overs game. Find out the fresh and young blood from all over the country and selectors should not keep themselves limited to punjab.
Awaiting to watch lala play. BOOM BOOM will sure be in action. All the best shahid bhai and team Pakistan. Play well and win the T20 trophy God bless you.
by staying out of the national team and letting someone deserving play!
First, I like to comment on one thing other than the news itself.
I always find a huge difference of opinion among us. The commentators here are miles apart in opinion from each other. Some believes Misbah was our only savior while some have completely opposite thought about Msibah being a savior. Some thought that Afridi is the most significant reason why we loses so many times while some upbeat drums about Afridi (including myself; to be fair to say).
I would like to see Afridi to play T20 WC because he is the most effective bowler in our side. He is outstanding in fielding (probably one and only respectable Fielder in the entire Pakistani squad). He plays with his heart and sole and shows much passion and enthusiasm than any other player in the team. He was the Best bowler in terms of every bowling statistics in the recent ODI WC. He is out-of form but I hope he will get back into it soon. I admit that he is a Gamble with the Bat but certainly not with the Bowl and in the Fielding.
We did not see any significant contribution from our so called winning coach.There is no visible planning seen during series against Australia.We witness same individual performance in team.We heard that this coach is strick decipliner but we did not see any action against Imran Nazir and Umer Akmal for throwing their wickets.No planning is visible in chasing a reasonable total.They should be taught to take a single and double and boundry on loose ball.Bowlers should be guided to bowl to opposing batsman keeping his weakness in mind.Follow through on planning should be carried at all cost.Violeters should be punished by dropping them in next match.
Afridi will play a decisive role in every loss for Pakistan. He is finished and fresh blood needs to be inducted for future.
Very Good Luck for Pakistan for T20 World Cup. Don’t look behind just go ahead and clinch your desirable win.
who made sure pakistan’s defeat in world cup semifinal
Gone are those days
Don,t fool us any more. It was a shame to lose to Australia. Got lucky in the first two…
What is Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Sami, and Tanvir doing in the team?
Defeat is must, if Afridi is decisive player
beautiful sarcasim!
Do not agree with Hafeez. Afridi is a GAMBLE. His record in the last twelve months is Pathetic.
just see his record in T20 dear…
There isn’t any single player in the entire Pakistani squad who has T20 record anywhere near Afridi’s record.
Poor audience! don’t even bother to check the facts
Wake up Hafeez!! Afridi WILL play a decisive role, I agree. He will make sure the team loses.
Without Misbah,even God cannot save Pakistan team
and we all know how many times Misbah has!!
Wonderful comment from Huma
Are you Misbah’s relative ? Only then you can claim that.
Man you are without your backbone of Pakistan middle order irreplaceable in any format.Twice I have seen Pakistan struggling to get to 100 without him.Difficult days ahead for Pakistan team.
I agree Misbah is the only sane element in the Pakistani order the rest is just madness or unpredictable lot. But crazy people have brought undue pressure because of their unwanted criticism of Misbah.