I accepted Test captaincy on trial basis: Afridi

Afridi dispelled the impression that the team was disunited, which forced him to quit Test captaincy.—Reuters photo

LAHORE Former Pakistan Test captain Shahid Afridi, who dropped a bombshell by hastily announcing retirement from the game's traditional format recently, has disclosed that at the time of taking up the captaincy he had informed the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt that he was accepting the responsibility on trial basis.

“Mentally, I was not ready to play Test cricket due to a side strain. But there was enough pressure on me from friends and lovers of the game to lead the team in Test matches. And so when [PCB chief] Ijaz Butt offered me the post, I accepted it with the condition that I will only continue it if I enjoy it; so I would like to play a couple of Tests before making up my mind for this sort of cricket,” Afridi told Dawn from England.

Though Afridi led Pakistan in one-dayers and Twenty20 matches after Yousuf, the first Test at Lord's against Australia last week was his first as Test captain. Pakistan lost the Test by 150 runs and soon after the Test Afridi made the headlines by announcing to quit Test captaincy, which was later given to Salman Butt for the remaining five Test matches on the tour, one against Australia and four against England. Afridi failed to click either with the ball or the bat at Lord's.

“The way I was playing my shots in the first Test displeased me too. How can I command the team with such [poor] individual performance? And therefore, I preferred to quit Tests,” he stated.

Afridi was named the Test captain after Mohammad Yousuf faced indefinite ban from the PCB inquiry committee for the dismal tour of Australia earlier this year. Later, Yousuf preferred to announce retirement from international cricket.

Afridi further said that the side strain injury also did not allow him to play five-day matches.

Asked if the side strain was not a problem in Twenty20 and one-dayers, Afridi said in the long-version cricket the injury had its impact due to cold, adding that was not the case while playing the short versions.

Afridi dispelled the impression that the team was disunited, which forced him to quit Test captaincy.

“It was not the case, I only decided to quit Test cricket to allow the PCB to include a suitable player, either a bowler or a batsman, to strengthen the side,” he stressed.

“The team is united and the youngsters have impressed with their performances in the first Test [at Lord's]. And I would like to suggest the board to extend all help to coach Waqar Younis and manager Yawar Saeed to transform the team into a formidable side in future,” he said.

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