"Playing international cricket is not the job for chicken-hearted players" : Shahid Afridi

[MenInG]

Shahid Afridi speaking to the media:

“The differences between the coaching staff and Mohammad Amir are a continuation of tradition. My differences with Waqar Younis are well documented. This is not a good tradition."

"The cricket board's role is like that of a father and the players are like their children; In my view, the Board should always discuss any future plans with a player so that he is mentally prepared and knows that if he doesn't perform well, he will be excluded from the side"

"Its probably better in my view that Coaches dont make any statements about these issues; Coaching is not just about showing a player how to bowl - its also about motivating them"

"In good times, everyone is a friend and a coach can say look I worked very hard with this player and trained him well but seems that when a player doesn't perform, the coach seems to stand back which is wrong and should not happen; They should all work together as this has to do with the pride of the nation"

"You bring in player based on some performances and say that we have brought in a new talent to the team; From what I am seeing of the situation of this team, this talent will not be seen again soon"

"You need to find a player who can take the place of Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez; You brought in Wahab Riaz but he is nowhere to be seen"

"My point is that first find replacements for these (senior) players, and then one will be able understand your point of view if you bench these (senior) players"

"Shoaib Malik is your backbone with the World Cup coming up - he should have been in the team"

"I cant understand why Sohail Khan could be dropped (for SA series) as the selection committee said he was taken to NZ because his performances were good but now without him playing any games in NZ, he is being dropped"

"One of the players who could be dropped for the series against SA is one that who was supposed to become captain (referring to Shan)"

"I hope Mohammad Wasim does well - he is a hardworking person and he handled his side in domestic season really well"

"Misbah's contribution for Pakistan is great, but in terms of the players, let me say that playing cricket is not the job for chicken-hearted players"

"You may be the most talented player but you will not be able to play good cricket with a heart like a chicken"

"International cricket requires ability to handle pressure - only those who can take pressure survive and are courageous (Dalair) in international cricket - so I feel that approach of the players to their game will need to be changed and they will need to be made courageous (Dalair)"

Question asked:

"Boom Boom aur Tuk Tuk ka faraq (difference) to hai?"

Afridi : See you and walks away (people laugh)

 

[UzmanBeast]

Shahid Afridi speaking to the media:

“The differences between the coaching staff and Mohammad Amir are a continuation of tradition. My differences with Waqar Younis are well documented. This is not a good tradition."

"The cricket board's role is like that of a father and the players are like their children; In my view, the Board should always discuss any future plans with a player so that he is mentally prepared and knows that if he doesn't perform well, he will be excluded from the side"

"Its probably better in my view that Coaches dont make any statements about these issues; Coaching is not just about showing a player how to bowl - its also about motivating them"

"In good times, everyone is a friend and a coach can say look I worked very hard with this player and trained him well but seems that when a player doesn't perform, the coach seems to stand back which is wrong and should not happen; They should all work together as this has to do with the pride of the nation"

"You bring in player based on some performances and say that we have brought in a new talent to the team; From what I am seeing of the situation of this team, this talent will not be seen again soon"

"You need to find a player who can take the place of Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez; You brought in Wahab Riaz but he is nowhere to be seen"

"My point is that first find replacements for these (senior) players, and then one will be able understand your point of view if you bench these (senior) players"

"Shoaib Malik is your backbone with the World Cup coming up - he should have been in the team"

"I cant understand why Sohail Khan could be dropped (for SA series) as the selection committee said he was taken to NZ because his performances were good but now without him playing any games in NZ, he is being dropped"

"One of the players who could be dropped for the series against SA is one that who was supposed to become captain (referring to Shan)"

"I hope Mohammad Wasim does well - he is a hardworking person and he handled his side in domestic season really well"

"Misbah's contribution for Pakistan is great, but in terms of the players, let me say that playing cricket is not the job for chicken-hearted players"

"You may be the most talented player but you will not be able to play good cricket with a heart like a chicken"

"International cricket requires ability to handle pressure - only those who can take pressure survive and are courageous (Dalair) in international cricket - so I feel that approach of the players to their game will need to be changed and they will need to be made courageous (Dalair)"

Question asked:

"Boom Boom aur Tuk Tuk ka faraq (difference) to hai?"

Afridi : See you and walks away (people laugh)

I agree with the statement made about Shoaib Malik, he has 10,000 T20 runs, and he is in no position to be benched with stats like those when our lower middle order is so pathetic. On top of that, he provides a pretty decent off-spin bowling option, and he has international bowling experience as well.

On top of that, our test team caves in at the slightest sight of quality in the opposition. New Zealand conditions weren't as difficult as we made them to be, it was much more threatening in England when the ball was still swinging viciously at 50-60 overs. We survived at that point, but our openers shy away when the ball moves as much as an inch.

Good to see that a lot of people rate Mohammad Wasim, I hope he does well.

 

[hitthestump]

The knives continue to be drawn for Waqar Younis. Seems that basically everyone has had enough of him.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I agree with the statement made about Shoaib Malik, he has 10,000 T20 runs, and he is in no position to be benched with stats like those when our lower middle order is so pathetic. On top of that, he provides a pretty decent off-spin bowling option, and he has international bowling experience as well.

On top of that, our test team caves in at the slightest sight of quality in the opposition. New Zealand conditions weren't as difficult as we made them to be, it was much more threatening in England when the ball was still swinging viciously at 50-60 overs. We survived at that point, but our openers shy away when the ball moves as much as an inch.

Good to see that a lot of people rate Mohammad Wasim, I hope he does well.

But Shoaib Malik is a chicken in NZ, England, Aus. His career numbers there are awful.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

The knives continue to be drawn for Waqar Younis. Seems that basically everyone has had enough of him.

That's a good thing to see. Waqar has bullied people for so long and has now backed himself to the corner. Now the only people who support him(pcb) can step away anytime.

But it would be awful to see Mohammad Amir winning the battle here. He deserves to be left in wilderness.

 

[UzmanBeast]

But Shoaib Malik is a chicken in NZ, England, Aus. His career numbers there are awful.

Next T20 World Cup isn't in New Zealand, England, or Australia. It's in subcontinental conditions, specifically India. He will thrive in those conditions. In India, Shoaib Malik is averaging 156 with a strike rate of 140. That's pretty good for my standards. Plus, he has over 10,000 T20 runs, along with about 150 T20 wickets.

He is a must for the World Cup to India. He should be selected for the T20 Squad versus South Africa as well, to make sure that he is in form before the World Cup begins.

When Malik is in the team, he gives a lot more flexibility:

Babar Azam (c)
Sharjeel Khan/Any Other Opener
Haider Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik
Shadab Khan/Iftikhar Ahmed
Azam Khan (wk)
Imad Wasim/Usman Qadir
Faheem Ashraf/Hasan Ali
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Haris Rauf

That's a banger team IMO. However, I do realize that the batting is very deep, and the bowling looks weak in terms of a good spinner. Shadab's bowling has been awful, so you will have to keep Usman Qadir in the mix, especially on Indian wickets.

The only concern is that I personally don't think that Shadab's batting is that explosive to bat down at 6, so he will need to flex his muscles in PSL to show if he can be trusted at that spot.

 

[Doc77]

Afridi should follow his own advice and not be chicken hearted in his comments....say it as it is... Waqar is a rubbish coach. Shan M is a useless batsmen.

Personally I still feel that people Afridi is responsible for destroying a whole generation of pakistan cricketers who idolised him and adopted brain-dead techniques of batting like him!!!! Plus he played and batted for himself and never for the team or situation.

 

[enigmatic_stani]

Afridi asking people not to be chicken hearted but in the same vain quit the test captaincy half way through a series. That is the epitome of being chicken hearted!!

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Afridi asking people not to be chicken hearted but in the same vain quit the test captaincy half way through a series. That is the epitome of being chicken hearted!!

How does Afridi quitting test half way through the series make him chicken hearted? If anything it makes him a selfless player who doesn’t think about himself.

Afridi could’ve easily kept captaincy through the series but he knew someone else could do a better job (Which I disagree with), so he quit.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Next T20 World Cup isn't in New Zealand, England, or Australia. It's in subcontinental conditions, specifically India. He will thrive in those conditions. In India, Shoaib Malik is averaging 156 with a strike rate of 140. That's pretty good for my standards. Plus, he has over 10,000 T20 runs, along with about 150 T20 wickets.

He is a must for the World Cup to India. He should be selected for the T20 Squad versus South Africa as well, to make sure that he is in form before the World Cup begins.

When Malik is in the team, he gives a lot more flexibility:

Babar Azam (c)
Sharjeel Khan/Any Other Opener
Haider Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik
Shadab Khan/Iftikhar Ahmed
Azam Khan (wk)
Imad Wasim/Usman Qadir
Faheem Ashraf/Hasan Ali
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Haris Rauf

That's a banger team IMO. However, I do realize that the batting is very deep, and the bowling looks weak in terms of a good spinner. Shadab's bowling has been awful, so you will have to keep Usman Qadir in the mix, especially on Indian wickets.

The only concern is that I personally don't think that Shadab's batting is that explosive to bat down at 6, so he will need to flex his muscles in PSL to show if he can be trusted at that spot.

What I was talking about was there was no need of picking Shoaib Malik for NZ tour when he has a disastrous record in those conditions and even wt20 isnt there. Malik just needs to be ready. Playing Malik in NZ would have been useless.

 

[Slim]

Lala is a heart specialist. Small hearts, big hearts and now Chicken hearts.

 

[JaDed]

Lala is a heart specialist. Small hearts, big hearts and now Chicken hearts.

Lmaoo

On a serious note - why does the analogy of children and father happen in desi cultures, both should be professionals thats all.

 

[UzmanBeast]

What I was talking about was there was no need of picking Shoaib Malik for NZ tour when he has a disastrous record in those conditions and even wt20 isnt there. Malik just needs to be ready. Playing Malik in NZ would have been useless.

To be fair, the ball was coming onto the bat nicely in that series. It would have still been better than playing the likes of Khushdil, who went into strike rates less than 100, which is a crime in T20 cricket.

 

[Saj]

He makes a fair point about bravery and courage which I think is lacking in many of our current players. Too many players who are great when the going is good, but go missing when the going gets tough.

 

[iniqbal223]

Afraid was reckless as a batsman, but never was chicken hearted
He did not have patience to stay in crease for one time that is why he left test cricket

People gunning for Amir, has to realize its the Waqar's bullying attitude that creates all the problems.. Almost 20+ cricketers played under Waqar said so..

 

[Colorblind Genius]

The knives continue to be drawn for Waqar Younis. Seems that basically everyone has had enough of him.

Except for PCB.
They just don't want to understand and recognize the issue.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

He makes a fair point about bravery and courage which I think is lacking in many of our current players. Too many players who are great when the going is good, but go missing when the going gets tough.

None of the foreign coaches had this kind of relationship with the players.
You had Woolmer and Micky as a great example.

Whatmore was somewhat tough but you get the idea.

Relationship with the coach shouldn't need bravery, but this relationship should be based on trust, and fatherly mentorship.

We all know, the bigger problem is in Waqar.
In man-management skills, and in technical coaching skills, he is extremely poor at both fronts, and that has been proven over and over again.

I just don't understand why is it so hard for PCB to recognize this by now?

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I have personally reached to a point where I believe that Waqar is the bigger problem than Misbah, and Waqar should be shown the door BEFORE Misbah.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

To be fair, the ball was coming onto the bat nicely in that series. It would have still been better than playing the likes of Khushdil, who went into strike rates less than 100, which is a crime in T20 cricket.

How would you know a young batter is or isn't good enough unless he is put in that position. Malik has been given plenty of chances in such conditions and has bottled them all.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Afridi was most chicken hearted then. It takes guts to fight against your natural instincts and fight it out for your team. He just played few hoicks in the name of natural game.
Also team needed him the most and his guidance in 2010 England tour and he ran away mid way. Writes in the book what was going on but still chose to keep quiet and let Pakistan be humiliated on world stage.... hated him after that revelation.

 

[sshakir411]

Lala was around during Pakistan’s prime. And I agree...the people running the team and the players they select are not far from chickens. They mentally bottled after seeing a little grass on NZ pitches even though that’s pretty common.

 

[UzmanBeast]

How would you know a young batter is or isn't good enough unless he is put in that position. Malik has been given plenty of chances in such conditions and has bottled them all.

Agreed, but my point was that it's not like the youngsters gave any commendable performances on that tour.

 

[Saj]

None of the foreign coaches had this kind of relationship with the players.
You had Woolmer and Micky as a great example.

Whatmore was somewhat tough but you get the idea.

Relationship with the coach shouldn't need bravery, but this relationship should be based on trust, and fatherly mentorship.

We all know, the bigger problem is in Waqar.
In man-management skills, and in technical coaching skills, he is extremely poor at both fronts, and that has been proven over and over again.

I just don't understand why is it so hard for PCB to recognize this by now?

Waqar is not to blame for the pathetic attempts at batting of most of our players in New Zealand.

Look at some of the dismissals, they were embarrassing.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Waqar is not to blame for the pathetic attempts at batting of most of our players in New Zealand.

Look at some of the dismissals, they were embarrassing.

No, that's not the topic here.

Batting wows is an altogether different can of worms that we have to deal with.

We are talking "Waqar and Amir" here.

Waqar's (bowling) coaching skills and Waqar's man-management and his general demeanor is atrocious.

I would perhaps tolerate Misbah in the form of a selector but Waqar being around the team is not healthy, it's not positive and it's not productive.
If PCB hasn't learn this by now (after 5 tries), then I don't know what will?

 

[Saj]

No, that's not the topic here.

The topic is regarding Afridi's overall statements, not just what some want to discuss.

Amongst Afridi's comments is the valid point about a lack of courage and bravery within our players.

 

[Rohan]

Didn’t Lala chicken out of a test series in between?

 

[Markhor]

Shahid bhai remind us who was captain when we were humiliated in the 2016 Asia Cup and crashed out of the group stage of T20 World Cup ?

Was it a jinn who gave debut to 39 year old Rifatullah Mohmand and recalled Khurram Manzoor with his club level technique against pace ? Who was it that played Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal time and again despite repeated failures ? Which captain left us tottering at 7th in T20 rankings ?

If only Afridi's newfound love for concepts like planning and consistent selections were demonstrated on his watch.

 

[CleverSir]

The statement about Malik is insane. Hafeez and Babar are the backbone of our T20 lineup. We can't carry both Hafeez and Malik. Hafeez is in prime form so you play him obviously and in an extreme pinch he can throw down a decent over.

This whole father-son type relationship ** needs to end. Senior player culture is killing our cricket. Mickey Arthur was right, if the 36 yr old Hafeez gets your 25 yr self out by stupidity, go into the dressing room and have a go at him instead of sitting meekly. All the top sides do this, go to Australia, NZ, England, and now thanks to IPL Indians do it too. It is a privilege to be in the playing XI not a right.

This is also why I don't get too worked up over bits and pieces players like Aaron Summer (sp?) playing in the Pakistan Cup. They grew up with the in your face mentality and won't be afraid to have a go at a teammate, and hopefully our players learn to pick up that aggression.

 

[cricket4all]

Afridi is right. He was good himself at internationals but not for tests.

Misbah and Vicky maybe to blame for some of the New Zealand debacle but ultimately players themselves have to be mentally strong and be good enough. (NZ are also a much better team right now).
Javed Miandad, Inzy, Imran etc didn’t need much coaching or such. They were up for the challenge of playing internationals and were mentally strong themselves. Your either good enough and ready to play for your country or not.
Today’s Pakistan players lack temperament and mental strength.