Pakistan's cricket chief Tuesday blasted an “irresponsible” Shahid Afridi for creating confusion around the team captaincy and said the popular big-hitting all-rounder could face disciplinary action.
Afridi, who led Pakistan in the third and final one-day international against Australia after regular captain Misbah-ul Haq withdrew because of poor batting form, said a final decision should be made on who would lead the team.
“Misbah or me, whoever is to lead Pakistan in the World Cup he should know it now,” Afridi said after Pakistan's one-run defeat which handed Australia a 3-0 series win in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan hit out at Afridi over the comments.
“Afridi's statement was irresponsible,” Khan said. “We are analysing his statement to decide whether he has violated PCB's code of conduct for an action.”
Khan said Afridi's statement had created unnecessary doubt over the captaincy for next year's World Cup.
“I have told everyone, from Misbah to head coach Waqar Younis to chief selector and manager Moin Khan, that Misbah will lead Pakistan in the World Cup,” said Khan.
The PCB chief also pulled Afridi up on his form.
“Now people are saying Afridi should be the captain but although his bowling has improved his batting hasn't,” said Khan.
“It's up to the selectors to judge and see does he (Afridi) deserve a place in the team,” Khan said.
Afridi took 3-46 in Pakistan's 93-run defeat in the first one-dayer in Sharjah, his first wickets in seven one-day internationals.
Afridi, who has so far played 384 one-day internationals, has made only one half century in the last 28 innings.– AFP