Struggling Afridi blames Misbah for CT axe

AP Published May 1, 2013

ISLAMABAD: Shahid Afridi has blamed Pakistan's one-day cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq for his exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad, and has vowed to return to the national team.

“It's the captain's decision to drop me,” Afridi told the Urdu language Daily Jang on Wednesday.

“It's no big deal for me if a captain doesn't want a certain player in the team.”

In announcing the squad earlier this week, selectors said Afridi, who has scored 7,201 and taken 348 wickets in ODIs, was left out due to recent poor form in one-day internationals. He has scored only 161 runs at an average of 17.88 and taken just four wickets at an astonishing cost of 113.75 runs each in the last 12 ODIs. But Afridi refused to go into his recent statistics.

“I am much better than lot of other (Pakistan) players and I know I could play for Pakistan for few more years.”

Afridi now plans to prepare for a Twenty20 tournament in England in July where he will represent English county Hampshire.

“I have received lots of text messages from my fans and I am thankful to all of them,” he said.

The flamboyant allrounder refused to accept that his exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad spelt the end of his career.

“I know I have to work very hard to return to Pakistan team,” he said.

“I want to make it clear I don't want to be burden on the team. I want to represent Pakistan on performance and fitness.

“The day I believed I am burden on the team I will quit myself.”

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Shahid Khan

May 03, 2013 12:47pm

Afridi, dont blame the captain, its your continuous poor performance. You should seriously consider retiring in a respectable manner.

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Nadeem Mian

May 04, 2013 07:15am

Afridi- Don't blame anybody but yourself!!

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Muhammad Iqbal

May 04, 2013 07:52am

@Shahid Khan: who the heck is performing, all did poor but he's blamed cause everyone expects more from him and others are there to have fun as visiting tourists

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Zaheer

May 01, 2013 09:22pm

He is (was) a great player, with more brawn than brain and certainly no class as shown by his many misstatements over the years i.e. the senior players do not need any coaching, abrupt walking away from a responsibility (test Captainship-2010) ball biting,pitch digging etc. All he has to do is to look at his performances over the last two years or so -take responsibility like a man and stop blaming Misbah (The one guy with brains and class-and probably the best captain after the great Khan) Grow up Mr. Afridi, accept that you are going through a lean patch-learn from your mistakes and improve your game, if you have any serious intention of coming back into the team-otherwise your "Best Before Date" may have passed you by-thanks for the wonderful memories though.

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Talha

May 03, 2013 09:08am

you need to perform shahid afridi although you serve dthe country very well in the past but right nwo it seems you are mor ebusy managing you private business than playing cricket . Not playing domestic cricket when all others are shows your commitment. I fear youw ont mak eit back this time as your performance is very poor , should have taken retirement a long time ago rather than now workign you way back tot eh team to get a respectable retirement plan.

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Talha

May 03, 2013 09:10am

plus one more thing i would like to add for afridi and umer akmal if a player can not be consistent after playing 100 or more matches that means he sneve rgoing to learn so he should not be given another chance as there is a long list of talenete dplayers waiting in domestic cricket for a chance.

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ANEES

May 03, 2013 08:55am

Why are you asking a 33-years-old to leave cricket for your youngsters? What about 39-years-old in the same team?

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Arif

May 01, 2013 11:16pm

Rogers, i agree that Afridi has made some dashing records, but that comes once in a blue moon. Its not very regular. He is a "fluke player". His inclusion in the team no doubt did put the other team at nerves once he was at the pitch, but even that has gradually changed. He is not a 'scare' anymore. He should retire with respect so that he can be remembered with respect....not one who scored 10 runs in 10 matches (just arbitrary). Having said that, others should be axed from the team too. Misbah plays too slowly, Sohail Tanveer doesnt know how to bowl. There are better wicket keepers than Akmal.

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Kashir

May 03, 2013 10:03am

I guess, Shahid should sit down and think all over on his performances, he is a wonderful play but not committed enough to get team through on critical times. We need players with stable attitude and committed to the end. If you think that you are a match winner, that you have to perform like a match winner, responsible and taking your part on. I am much wondering why selector are not picking Raazaq for a long time, and no body saying anything on it. I seriously suggest that Raazaq should have given same chances as Shahid been given. And why we are still sticking with Shohib anymore? Shouldn't a chance been given to some youngster?

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ABL

May 02, 2013 06:32am

No, his form is not good and cannot secure him a place in national side. He just need to do something simple. Perform at the domestic level and come back, if you think that you still have few years of active cricket in you. Just a simple advise from your fan!!

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faiz

May 02, 2013 07:21am

Afridi performed well with bat in last series and yet others who didn't are still in team ?

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noaman

May 01, 2013 06:53pm

This is where Education makes a difference, such statements are just childish. I have nothing against the guy but he really has to bring his game up to the par, Stats speak for themselves and he needs to check them and improve accordingly.

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Syed

May 01, 2013 06:53pm

Denial is the first step. Afridi should relaize that his time is GONE

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ram

May 01, 2013 10:25pm

He did not blame Misbah...said it was option. He has many offers from British counties like Musharraf has for lecture. They consider the useful....Thankless Pakis.... Why Jinnah is left out...is a question

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marc

May 01, 2013 09:51pm

afridi, please retire, we lost world cup semi final and last t20 semi final because of you, you should have given your place to razzak in last t20 semi final..

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May 01, 2013 04:44pm

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hassan

May 02, 2013 08:54am

There is way difference between heading and what he said, Dawn news if you want sell your news paper , try some other tactics ,

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Zee

May 02, 2013 03:03pm

So called Boom Boom was never really a great player. His attitute has always been immature. Quitting the team several times and once in the middle of a tour as a captain - what else can you say? Quoting 7,000 runs and 300 wickets is misleading as he has played for a long time. His stats are dismal, he always lived by hype, not by consistent performance which is the hallmark of any great player. He has done a lot of damage to the team by his irresponsible play, he should have been dropped a long time ago. Bye bye Bust Bust.

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Anwar Khushab

May 01, 2013 12:36pm

Stop being provincial. Afridi should be dropped because he is out of form. He should be recalled if he regains his form. No doubt Shoaib Malik and some others could also be dropped, but please examine your logic. You are arguing that if you cannot catch all thieves you should not catch any.

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mehboobmalik

May 03, 2013 04:45am

Afridi is at present much much much much much better player than Misbah and some other gamblers. Every body knows what game they played in removing him from the captaincy and on what cost. :(

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Naseer

May 02, 2013 11:37am

Afridi Sahib, when a famous player like you does not perform, the whole team gets demoralized. It happened for Indian team, whenever Sachin did not perform. There is a long list of irresponsible shots, which got you out and you did not stand up, when the team needed you. Your bowling is mediocre too. Time for you to bow out from all formats of International cricket gracefully now. No use making political statements, like the one against Misbah, as such statements will only tarnish your image in the eyes of your fans . All nation salutes you for your outstanding performances in the past.

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Kamran

May 02, 2013 08:56am

Mr Afridi... Only one thing goota say.... "Actions speak louder than words..."

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Kamran

May 02, 2013 09:03am

If Misbah is burden on team.. then winning rate, which is outstanding with respect to previous captaincy, mind it... its time for afridi to groom himself and try his best efforts for come back.

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Julie C

May 01, 2013 08:33pm

One can only make the team so many times on celebrity status alone.

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Yasir

May 01, 2013 09:33am

Mr burden have a look on your career, u have never played well. u never come to the expectation of the people of Pakistan and all over Muslim world. i don't know how have you been absorbed in Pakistani team since long,,,,you have really judged your self that ur burden, but still ur conscious didn't wake up.

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M A Mujeeb

May 02, 2013 07:48am

I agree. Clearly Afridi is out of form for quite some time and to my way of thinking has reached his potential. There is no point blaming Misbah.

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Shafiq Khan

May 02, 2013 08:53am

I am no supporter of Mr. Afridi although it must be accepted that his presence in the team in his best period was an advantage. There is no shame in accepting the inevitable the advancing years. I used to be glued to the crackling radio and listening to the Fazal Mahmood bowling , but those days are gone. I remember Hanif and Raies, Mushtaq was nearly as high as his bat, practising in front of their flat (Municipal servants quarters near the Karachi Zoo gates). Those days have gone. They accepted their lot with grace. We all have to accept it ,it is best with grace than otherwise. The great advantage is to live in the present and enjoy what you have , your children and their well being. Not many Pakistanis can live in the luxury you live in. Isn't that enough? Shafiq

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Fakhir Khalil

May 03, 2013 12:56am

Oh ! come on Afridi. Where is the sportsmanship. Look at your performance. I am a horrible batsman but honestly am batting better than you in my gully cricket. Get yourself straightened up and come back for another record century. By the way take this off time to make some money on TV commercials.

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Waheed

May 02, 2013 08:29am

How many runs Hafeez, Malik and Kamran Akmal has scored? How many wickets Wahab Riaz has taken? What was his economy? Please dont be pathetic about commenting about someone. He admits he is going through rough phase and he is still better than many.

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cricketlover

May 02, 2013 07:34am

Corr(ection: He was an excellent allrounder (now history) but the current requirement is for a player (coming in at his position) to focus on the situation as well as the need of the hour. If only Afridi realises this and displays this responsible attitude, otherwise he should consider himself a spent force.

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Malveros

May 03, 2013 08:35am

Akmal brothers are from Karachi.

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shabbzz

May 02, 2013 10:42am

Well you cannot take that spot in the team for granted. If one is not performing well, selection committee has all the right to opt for a replacement. Afridi can improve his form in domestic and can make a strong come back instead of not accepting the figures and statistics.

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Maroof Haroon

May 02, 2013 06:19am

Exclusion of Afridi from Champions Trophy squad is a great decision taken by PCB because he is struggling with his performance since 2 years and we all know what he did in tour of South Africa especially in last match when, we need his performance but also in that match he played without any responsibility and through his wicket like every time.

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Anwar Qureshi

May 02, 2013 08:01am

Enough is enough now Mr. Afridi. Do not cry and do not clamor and do not blame the Captain. You just go home and retire ALLAH ALLAH KARO or join politics if u still want to make more and more money. Leave the cricket for our youngster who are doing very well.

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athar_jeelani@yahoo.com

May 02, 2013 11:52am

We don't need world records! we need results...

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ada

May 03, 2013 10:41am

that day has come and gone lala. you have been a burden on the team for a while. Just like Younis Khan and a few others......

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SHAMS

May 03, 2013 06:15am

Excluding Afridi there is not a single match winner in PAK there was a Abdul Razaak and Inzi once upon a time but all thanks to PCB they wasted their careers....

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Shiraz

May 02, 2013 11:43am

Afridi, no doubt is amongst best player of pakistani team, to drop him is a blow for the nation

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Wasim

May 01, 2013 04:38pm

Afridi World...I gues...:-)

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arif khan

May 02, 2013 06:31am

I do,t understand why people not talking about Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal. They are much poor than Afridi. The selectors should do justice. They should drop these two players along with afridi and should introduce new players.

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Pakistani

May 02, 2013 06:28am

In reality all of the senior players are pass their sell-by date. This blame game and politics in team selection etc. will continue to exist unless PCB itself decides to conduct its own affairs professionally. There should be one simple rule 'No one is bigger than the team'; if this followed in letter and spirit, we will be able to compose a team of true professionals.

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irfan

May 01, 2013 03:34pm

Down inside he knows its over; just dragging his toes. T20 might be his last hope even though his bowling and batting is also a burden to carry him in T20 circket. It is very shamefull to know that player like him has ever played test cricket for Pakistan. He never improved his batting and his bowling improved just a bit in last 3 years of his carrier.

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Mark

May 02, 2013 06:13am

Someone please tell me why is Shoaib Malik,Kamran Akmal,Imran Farhat,Wahab Riaz,Hafeez still in the Team?Like the saying goes,You want to play for Pakistan National Team? move to Punjab,you will play even if you are old and BLIND.

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Brandsynario

May 02, 2013 06:09am

He has done great achievements for Pakistan but his bad performance in past few years has also been a main factor for dropping him for champions trophy..!

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Danyal Manzar

May 02, 2013 06:06am

Rogers he is washed up that's what he is. He doesnt run on the field and drops alot more catches then he used to. He only plays for himself and personal records like chris gayle does thats why i dislike him... and the above comments prove that...

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Danyal Manzar

May 02, 2013 06:04am

haha typical afridi blame your failures on others.... way to go what a team player..

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M Rafique

May 02, 2013 05:48am

Why to forget Umer Akmal

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Omair

May 02, 2013 05:45am

He is not in form as you stated so he is out of the team. Why he is giving statements against the captain then?

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arif khan

May 03, 2013 05:02am

Hafeez performance is very very poor as an opening in one day as well as test player. He should drop from one day and test cricket. Ahmad Shahzad is very good batsman and much better than Hafeez and Imran farhat. But selectors are stone age people. Australian, Indian and other parts of the world do equal justice with all players. But Pakistani selectors have old brain.

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Kazi Saab

May 01, 2013 01:25pm

Sir, With all due respect, the "psychological win" over opponents mantra died a long time ago. No one is afraid of Afridi. Afridi is as scary to the other teams as cold mango juice to a Pakistani kid. Other teams actually look forward to his batting since it's an easy wicket. Lob a slow bouncer to Afridi and watch him hit it towards a man at the boundry. If the psychological effect was as significant as we would like to believe, we would have lost to India and won against South Africa. Afridi was a great player with tons of potential.. but his place in team should be on merit. Not because we think the other teams are afraid of him.

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May 01, 2013 03:57pm

Has DAWN got a policy to publish comments of Misbah's fans ? Afridi is 100 times better than Hafeez and Misbah - Dislike this haters.. Write the number of World Records they hold and compare them against Afridi - Open Challenge !

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Khan

May 02, 2013 04:51am

Afridi make Punjab domicile and you will be in the team forever even if you involved in match fixing like akmal brothers and other players from Punjab

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Mushtaq Ahmed

May 02, 2013 04:39am

Afridi is stirring up controversy for nothing. He can't hide his poor performance. Selectors and media should ignore his rhetorical outbursts.

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Imi

May 02, 2013 04:01am

I agree he is so naive.....can't take wickets and his batting is mess...but blame Captain....Wow

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Tajamal Hassan

May 02, 2013 02:53am

Afridi knows his bad performance has cost Pakistan badly,he should learn from Ponting,Sangakara and Gilchrist who dropped themselves in IPL games because they were not performing.That is spirit of games.Wake up Afridi

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kirther

May 01, 2013 08:11pm

Overall Misbah is a below par player and his stats supports this, he is of no match to players like Hafeez, even younger players have far better average then him, Why is he in the team?

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ubaid khan

May 01, 2013 04:17pm

he is right , he is better player than some player in the team. he is not in form at present but will recover soon inshallah. he is the most spectacular player after imran khan. we will miss you in Ireland

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Karachi Wala

May 01, 2013 04:14pm

I have long believed among few others one of the worst things that have happened to Pakistan cricket is Afridi's fastest ODI century. For years, I have argued with friends and online forum like this one. The reason being, it changed the mindset of over enthusiastic but far from reality Pakistani cricket fans. Here I have to be honest and clear, one can not put all the blame on Afridi alone for the world he lives in. Most of the youngsters who get fame and fortune this quickly would act the same way. The blame goes to the whole nation in general, especially so called reporters, I emphasize reporters not journalists and quite a few ex-cricketers turned TV experts are responsible for the state he and most of his die hard followers are in. We are a nation who instead believing in long term strategy, which requires lots of hard work and sweat with steadfastness, always think that with Dua (pray) and Mojza (miracle) and lately with the presence of Afridi we are going to conquer each and everything from cricket to America and anything in between. It is time that we wake up and do what needs to be done in a realistic way so we can achieve goals that are real and last long.

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Dr. Zaidi, MBBS, MD, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia

May 01, 2013 08:15pm

Afridi, let's stop pointing fingers at any one and remember everyone has it's time. Your time is up and it is better relax, work as cricket mentor and teach youngsters your used tricks, experience, short cuts and much more. Enjoy life, become a good citizen and clean your heart, work for country, listen to God and follow Holy Quranic guidance, Sunnah Rasool and have distance with corrupts.

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cobra

May 01, 2013 11:54pm

It is all over for you pathan, your form in last couple of years tells it all. This is the main problem of Indian sub continent, great players won't retire until they kicked out, perhaps we should learn from Australians, and Brits

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pakistani

May 01, 2013 10:16pm

misbah is not winning captain or batsmen he should retire from the game for example world cup semi final against india t20 world cup final against india resent tour of india 2012 game 3 when he need to show his captainesy he fail thanks god for junaid khan irfan & ajmal without these guys we would loss big time just dont blame afridi you have to be fair get rid of misbah for good

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zeeshansyed

May 01, 2013 09:36am

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asad

May 01, 2013 09:54pm

Boom Boom back to living room.

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Haroon

May 01, 2013 06:32pm

what he meant was... when the team will have to physically carry him to the team, he will quite

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Haroon

May 01, 2013 06:30pm

The only thing scared of Afridi is Dandruff and his Shampoo

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Haroon

May 01, 2013 06:28pm

He is inviting criticism by making statements about other players in public once he was dropped on merit

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Azmat Shah

May 01, 2013 09:40am

Any player left out of the team would feel disappointed. I dont agree with the headline of this news item. It makes him sound as if he has a grudge against Misbah which is not the case. He is saying that if the captain does not want him in the team then its fine and he will work hard to make his way back in the national side. Whats wrong with this statement? Every one agrees that his form has plummeted recently and he too is aware of that. I agree with his exclusion from the team but how would any one justify Imran Farhat's inclusion in the side. He has been given umpteenth number of chances but has failed to impress and still persisted with. I think that is what has made him to say that he is better then some of the players. Same wit h Wahab Riaz

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rashid

May 01, 2013 09:42am

You are right!! but what about captain himself??????

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Abdullah Hussain

May 01, 2013 06:13pm

Afridi Sahib, don't blame anyone except your poor performance. If you see the comments of the readers then you will understand that the decision to drop you was correct. Even cricked great like Sachin was dropped. Concentrate on your game for a comeback, blaming others will do no good.

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Ebrahim

May 01, 2013 09:23am

Well blame game is Pakistan History , we should avoid it in future and perform in Domestic Cricket and prove your selection right if you can do that, IN my opinion all National players should be forced to play domestic cricket and should only be selected if they perform star or no star

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Indusonian

May 02, 2013 05:04pm

Understand why Misabah is there, stay tuned for a repeat defeat of Pakistan when they play India in the very last CT.

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Imran S

May 01, 2013 12:43pm

Captain did performed and seemed to be picking up his forms. There is no comparison between Afridi and Misbah by any standard

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appkhi

May 01, 2013 05:31pm

What about three other political figuires....Malik, Kamran, and Farhat....how tehse three got slected. Are they better than Afridi? .....no talent...not a good performance for the past few years ... only thing they have common is they have influential in laws... some of them have influence from corrupt political leaders...

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khan

May 01, 2013 05:09pm

Afridi has the right to play as long as his fans want him to. He is as great as Sachin and should be allowed to choose his retirement. I hope the army takes over PCB and knocks some sense in to the selector's heads.

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Javed

May 01, 2013 01:21pm

Too many shampoo commercials and other nonsense that he forgot and lost focus on his real skill. From boom boom to doom doom. What a shame. Bye bye Afridi.

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Hassan

May 01, 2013 10:55am

Shame.. Afridi should learn from his mistakes and try to improve

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Hasnain Raza

May 01, 2013 10:55am

if this is this spirit of a player with 350+ ODIs and a 17 years long career, I am ashamed of being a human. Mr. Afridi, you are the one who is appointed as captain for test series in England, you lead your team in first of the six tests, then suddenly give shock to whole nation by retiring after first test itself. You eat a cricket ball when appointed a substitute captain in the 10th game of the Australian tour (being lost all nine before that) despite that there were strong chances of you to become regular captain for next assignment after that tour), you retire fighting with your board chairman, you hit your fan publically at the airport, you are out ZERO in the 5th ODI at Benoni (the decider) of Pak-SA series, you go wicketless for 200+ balls bowled, yet you blaim your captain for your exclusion from the squad. You yourself are a big shame. My advise to you is to go to a net session when u hear that u r not in the squad instead of going to the media anchors.

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Shakir

May 01, 2013 08:54am

Don't put the blame on the same captain who always included you in the playing eleven irrespective of your form and performance. You are a better player than most but only 20% of the time. Hope you make it into the squad again purely on merit.

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Safdar

May 01, 2013 12:34pm

Well said

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farrukh

May 01, 2013 02:11pm

Afridi is so naive........he has been a burden on Pakistan for quiet some time now....he thinks he can play with muscles and no brains shows how NAIVE he is....wake up you old warrior and retire and enjoy cricket from the outside.

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Sufy

May 01, 2013 09:28am

Pakistan kooo 1st T20 world cup kaun jitayaa thats Afridi one man show is there any tournament thats international Mizbha made team won or any other player...All dhakaans in pak except Afridi...

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Asif Kashmiri

May 01, 2013 01:31pm

Irfan , which world are u living in my dear?

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Shafiq

May 01, 2013 11:07am

All good things come to an end. He has passed his best and all those who know about cricket know that. He was good but never reliable . When he declared his retirement he should have stuck to his guns, but a Pakistani disease of feeling indispensable is bothersome. Just look at the many other top jobs in Pakistan, most of them well passed their best and others never any good anyway.

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Muba Khan

May 01, 2013 01:11pm

Let me guess, you're another fan living in the past who thinks just because Afridi hit the fastest ODI century he should play til he got dentures on..way to go buddy..

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k2k

May 01, 2013 03:20pm

Afridi...I am a big fan of yours..but its time for you to go

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Kamran Ali

May 01, 2013 03:01pm

He should be taken to task by PCB for violating the code of conduct by implicating the captian in his dropping from the team

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faaziz

May 01, 2013 10:22am

He needs to learn how to speak in public first. He has a pretty bad record of saying pretty impolite things in the past. Blame yourself Shahid, despite overwhelming love and support from the public you have been a consistent disappointment in the last two years or more.

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shahid

May 01, 2013 08:59am

You will never believe that you are a burden and so you will wish to go. Mr. Afridi, learn to play rolling shots and forget about sixes. Only one out of 20 air-born shots you play, ends up on the other side of the boundry. Learn to bat long before even thinking of hitting it high. All said, but I know, no one could ever make you understand and then who am I? Bowling comes with confidence and the confidence will come when you deliver in batting.

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Mushtaq Ahmad

May 01, 2013 09:04am

Afridi sahib, its about time to throw white towel in the ground

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Iqbal

May 01, 2013 09:09am

he should blame his performance.... he is clearly a spent force...

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Iqbal Ghumra

May 01, 2013 09:17am

Mr. Afridi,as a supporter of Pakistan cricket overseas,I have seen your match performance dip from bad to worst. The Selectors have finally shown guts to get rid of dead wood. I hope Hammad Azam is given an opportunity to play for national team in future.

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Mehran

May 01, 2013 08:46am

Afridi you've been given enough chances but you were good for nothing. Now admit it and don't blame Misbah. He supported you in the past but enough is enough, let him do his job honestly.

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Haroon

May 01, 2013 08:49am

What an Arrogant Idiot. You have consistently failed to score runs or take wickets in almost two years straight, but when you are dropped it is "someone's fault"? News Flash man, at this form, you ARE a burden to the team. You couldn't even score or take wickets in domestic tournaments. The only person to blame for Afridi's exclusion is Afridi himself. Cheers!

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Rehan

May 01, 2013 11:17am

If you could perform like how well you can talk.

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Mohsin Raza

May 01, 2013 10:05am

I am amazed at the so called fans who still send him messages for encouragement. I think he lives in a fantasy world. Afridi and his wonderland :)

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Aamir

May 01, 2013 11:12am

Shame on PCB, Selectors and Captain. Yes Afridi is not performing and should not be in the team but neither is Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Hafeez but they are still in the team because they are Punjabi. We need new talent from all over Pakistan and get the old horses kicked out including TukTuk Misbah.

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Tahir Amjad

May 01, 2013 10:05am

Enough is enough Mr Afridi,,,take rest and let younger lot groom well for the future of cricket in Pakistan..Your senseless hitting ,and that too for years have caused a great damage to PAKISTAN CRICKET..because despite your failiures you remained in the team and youngsters thought your way of batting is good to make it in the national team..result ??? we could not see an quality batsman after INZI and YOUSUF..we have no batsman with good technic ,,all are TULLAS hitting flukes without brain.

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sahil

May 01, 2013 02:40pm

I support you... you are the true leader and Hero, you are in the hearts of pak people(for my point of View Misbah is not deserved in National Team) as per his performance. not a single match He won for Pakistan. (He is not having a single Century) he is playing last 7 years, what kind of player is He..??

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imtiaz

May 01, 2013 02:48pm

Ami, wo mujhay nhe khila rahay!!!

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Ahmad

May 01, 2013 02:48pm

Misbah is old and should be shown the door for young talent to groom. Besides, his performance is mediocre in International matches, other than some last domestic tournaments. Through his reputation as slow scorer, he has caused Pakistan to loose lots of games. But looking at his performance during last domestic tournaments, he clearly can play at brisk pace if he WANTS to.

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abomination

May 01, 2013 02:49pm

sorry, i meant leg spin!

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IFTIKHAR KHAN

May 01, 2013 01:52pm

Please stop the blame game and start real game ,show performance,fans will drown you.

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Ali

May 02, 2013 07:30pm

He is not blaming anyone guys....all he said was that the Captain dropped me and I have to work hard to come back in the team. He did however mention that he is better than some other players in the team..probably referring to Shoaib and Kami.

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Paki

May 01, 2013 11:33am

Shoaib Malik should NOT be in the team as well....

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Ash

May 01, 2013 01:40pm

dont forget pitch tampering against england. Watch youtube video

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adeel

May 01, 2013 12:07pm

well said

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irfan khan

May 01, 2013 12:06pm

Ye what about Misbah performance & fitness?? Misbah is burden on team and Afridi is the true leader of the team

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Arif A.Khan

May 01, 2013 11:53am

All decisions should be made in wider interest of the Country & game..........no doubt Afridi should find his form but his inclusion in the Team would have been a plus point because he enjoys reputation of killing "required run" statistics and also of a good spinner......his inclusion in Team means 25% psychological win over opponents, no matter he performs or not because they select their Team before match keeping Afridi in mind and that is the blunder Pakistani Team can always cash in.

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Rogers Evans

May 01, 2013 01:53pm

Afridi is a good player. Since he is not in form, he accepts it. He has set records in bowling and batting. We should appreciate and encourage him to improve his game, instead of criticising with sarcastic comments. I am sure, he will be back in a thunderous way and I wish Afridi good luck. The critics must look themselves into a mirror and decide " Are their comments fair ?

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Imran A.

May 01, 2013 01:38pm

Afridi is sore. If you look at his past matches, if he got a wicket. He would stand with his X-posture waiting for team mates to come and please his ego. That arrogance has caught up with him and now he needs to humble himself and ask for forgiveness.

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adeel

May 01, 2013 12:05pm

Thats right Mr Afridi and please show up your good work and

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smskhan

May 01, 2013 01:55pm

Is he running for election??

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ZQ23

May 01, 2013 01:55pm

Shame on Afridi for giving such iresponsible statements. Some people never learn. Dropping him was a no-brainer and I hope he remains dropped!

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KHAN

May 01, 2013 10:47am

Afridi,you are still young and physically fit.I think you need to change and learn new tactics.you have talent.This my sincere advise

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skeptic

May 01, 2013 10:43am

too much talk and not much action

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Waseem

May 01, 2013 10:32am

Its time to move on for Afridi and Pakistan. He's been a great servant but his time's up. Thanks Afridi and please accept the inevitable instead of blaming anyone.

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