Shahid Afridi opens up about his strained relationship with Waqar Younis

[MenInG]

Pakistan former captain Shahid Afridi known for his gung-ho attitude on and off the field delved into the history he shared with former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, calling the bowling legend a ‘mediocre captain’ and ‘a terrible coach.’

“Unfortunately, he hadn’t let go of the past,” writes Afridi about the former fast bowler in his newly released autobiography ‘Game Changer.’

“Waqar and I had a history, dating all the way back to his tiff with Wasim [Akram] over the captaincy crown. He was a mediocre captain but a terrible coach, always micromanaging and getting in the way, trying to tell the captain – me – what to do… It was a natural clash and it was bound to happen,” wrote Afridi.

Talking about his much celebrated international cricket debut, Afridi revealed that he was actually nineteen years old rather than the stated sixteen. “I was just nineteen, and not sixteen like they claim. I was born in 1975. So yes, the authorities stated my age incorrectly,” wrote Afridi.

The former Pakistan captain also wrote about his relationships with the legendary Javed Miandad, Bob Woolmer, and also gave his views on the current Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan.

https://www.brecorder.com/2019/05/0...re-captain-reveals-real-age-in-autobiography/

 

[Deewana Mastana]

It is a known fact that Afridi and Waqar never got on with each other. Afridi felt he never needed to be told what he needed to do or how to play and Waqar never knew how to manage such characters.

As for Afridi's age, people who really thought he was 16 when he made his ODI debut and not 19 were always deluded of the fact as it was always well known fact too.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

He is admitting that he was born in 1975, right?

He made his debut in 1996.

Do the simple math and see if this makes him 19 or not.

 

[Ami]

so born in 1975...he was 21 not 16 in 1996
today it makes him 44 not 39
Crickey!

 

[j_kazmi]

Is that a typo? How would he have been 19 in 1996 if he was born in 1975?

That’s too basic of an error, they probably did on purpose for the publicity.

 

[Markhor]

Afridi was as good a captain as Waqar was a coach.

 

[Savak]

Afridi does not look bad at all for a 44 year old. Wow he is actually older than I thought

 

[Sher Khan]

What did afridi say about Malik? Heard he wrote negatively about him in his book.

 

[ARK Rafay]

I used to thought he is around Misbah's age.

 

[Chokli]

If you look back at the highlights from the 102(40) when they bring up his player card it shows his age as 21.

He was just a year younger than Misbah and Yousuf

 

[greatest]

So, with this revelation, will the record books remove his name as the youngest player to score an ODI hundred?

 

[Savak]

On a side note, am absolutely delighted to see him sticking it to Waqar. He is not the first nor the last person to have made these observations about Waqar.

 

[Chokli]

Where can I buy his book in eBook format?

 

[Slim]

On a side note, am absolutely delighted to see him sticking it to Waqar. He is not the first nor the last person to have made these observations about Waqar.

Exactly. Waqar is a cricketing legend but an awful coach and equally awful captain. His coaching tenure and his massive ego ruined Pakistan cricket.

 

[KyoOne]

So, with this revelation, will the record books remove his name as the youngest player to score an ODI hundred?

I hope they do

 

[ahmedzee]

Waqar the Captain & Coach was the worst thing that happened to Pakistan in the last 20 years. I can't believe such an amazing team of 2003 WC was kicked out early. They were one of the contenders.

Waqar as coach was known to be a micro manager and meddling in players affairs. Yousuf, Afridi, Akhtar, Younis are some of the players he had tussle with.

 

[Markhor]

Under Waqar we were tottering at 9th and 7th in the ODI and T20 rankings. We were utterly mediocre with the bat and in the field in the 2015 World Cup, and were abject in the 2016 WT20 where we crashed out of the group phase. We also received a 4-0 Banglawash in LOIs for first time in our history !

There was never any stability in selection under Waqar with constant chopping and changing. Aamer Yamin was given a few matches before being dumped, 39 year old Rifatullah Mohmand was given debut, Bilal Asif and Iftikhar Ahmed had a go opening and then you had guys like Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti and Mohammad Sami still hanging around.

Waqar also had his favourites with Wahab Riaz undroppable during his tenure despite his failures in white ball cricket. He never gave chances to consistent domestic performers like Mohammed Abbas.

Tactically he was inept. Who can forget playing four pacers on a raging turner in Kolkata ?

However Afridi was his accomplice for much of this time ! Good riddance to both of them.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar said the same about Waqar.

Waqar just had issues handling ego's. He couldn't give them that respect unlike the foreigners.

 

[Savak]

Afridi apparently blames Waqar for the disasterous 2003 WC campaign holding him responsible for failing to gell the team together and for a horrible dressing room environment. He blames Tauqir Zia as well for refusing to listen to the team and not appointing Wasim Akram as captain.

However to be fair to Tauqir Zia, in an interview i saw once, he admitted that he was extremely close to making Wasim Akram the captain for the 2003 WC but took a step back because he was worried about strong ICC sanctions given Akram was barred from captaining Pakistan again according to Justice Qayyum's report.

 

[waleed88]

Under Waqar we were tottering at 9th and 7th in the ODI and T20 rankings. We were utterly mediocre with the bat and in the field in the 2015 World Cup, and were abject in the 2016 WT20 where we crashed out of the group phase. We also received a 4-0 Banglawash in LOIs for first time in our history !

There was never any stability in selection under Waqar with constant chopping and changing. Aamer Yamin was given a few matches before being dumped, 39 year old Rifatullah Mohmand was given debut, Bilal Asif and Iftikhar Ahmed had a go opening and then you had guys like Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti and Mohammad Sami still hanging around.

Waqar also had his favourites with Wahab Riaz undroppable during his tenure despite his failures in white ball cricket. He never gave chances to consistent domestic performers like Mohammed Abbas.

Tactically he was inept. Who can forget playing four pacers on a raging turner in Kolkata ?

However Afridi was his accomplice for much of this time ! Good riddance to both of them.

This was Afridi. Apparently Afridi was of the opinion that our pace has always won us matches against India. As if we were living in the 80s and he was the reincarnation of Imran Khan

 

[waleed88]

Afridi apparently blames Waqar for the disasterous 2003 WC campaign holding him responsible for failing to gell the team together and for a horrible dressing room environment. He blames Tauqir Zia as well for refusing to listen to the team and not appointing Wasim Akram as captain.

However to be fair to Tauqir Zia, in an interview i saw once, he admitted that he was extremely close to making Wasim Akram the captain for the 2003 WC but took a step back because he was worried about strong ICC sanctions given Akram was barred from captaining Pakistan again according to Justice Qayyum's report.

Regardless of what Waqar thought of Afridi, he played him in almost all of the games in 2003, Waqar even dropped Saqlain in place of this favorite son of the soil in the all important game against India.

The result was a standard batting display that lasted the span of 2 deliveries.

In the bowling department he was smacked around by Tendulkar and Yuvraj for plenty.

For someone who has a tiff with Waqar, Afridi's stats in the world cup he played with him are there for everyone to see despite playing almost all of the games. Surely thats not down to the captain alone

 

[Savak]

Regardless of what Waqar thought of Afridi, he played him in almost all of the games in 2003, Waqar even dropped Saqlain in place of this favorite son of the soil in the all important game against India.

The result was a standard batting display that lasted the span of 2 deliveries.

In the bowling department he was smacked around by Tendulkar and Yuvraj for plenty.

For someone who has a tiff with Waqar, Afridi's stats in the world cup he played with him are there for everyone to see despite playing almost all of the games. Surely thats not down to the captain alone

Hmm, pretty pathetic for a player of Waqar's stature to use his own individual performance to justify the 2003 WC, in any case Waqar was a big pressure reliever and always leaked runs in that WC, he would even have been picked if he had not been captain.

 

[The Viper]

Glad that Waqar is gone from the team. Both are bad and even though the team still has flaws, it is not as bad as during Waqar's tenure.

 

[Savak]

This was Afridi. Apparently Afridi was of the opinion that our pace has always won us matches against India. As if we were living in the 80s and he was the reincarnation of Imran Khan

It wasn't Afridi alone, Waqar in that interview with Wasim Badami started to justify the decision under the pretext that insaan se ghalti ho jaati hai, that there was moisture, dew around which made them play 4 pacers.

 

[waleed88]

It wasn't Afridi alone, Waqar in that interview with Wasim Badami started to justify the decision under the pretext that insaan se ghalti ho jaati hai, that there was moisture, dew around which made them play 4 pacers.

I doubt Waqar had the mandate to select a team of 4 pacers with Afridi as captain. Considering the fact that his squad players were going to the ex-captain and now PM to get a no.3 batting position.

Secondly the same captain played 4 pacers in the Asia Cup t20 game. I won't be surprised if the man thought if it worked once with Mohammad Amir, it will work again...

Not surprised to see how that turned out.


Its no surprised Intikhab Alam called the guy clueless as a captain in his report.

 

[waleed88]

In cricket the team might work with an inept coach, but the team really suffers with an idiot as a captain [MENTION=2501]Savak[/MENTION]

 

[waleed88]

Hmm, pretty pathetic for a player of Waqar's stature to use his own individual performance to justify the 2003 WC, in any case Waqar was a big pressure reliever and always leaked runs in that WC, he would even have been picked if he had not been captain.

http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerYears_ODI.asp?PlayerID=1959#bowl

Waqar's stats in 2002 and 2003.

He actually was playing pretty well for someone bowling in his last years.

Deserved to be in the side more than someone like Afridi.

 

[waleed88]

Secondly the same team that Waqar captained won the 2002 series against Australia in their home. Waqar was probably the first guy in a while to captain a team that defeated Australia in their home turf.

Pakistan was coming up with some good young names as well at that time, obviously the situation at that time was such that no captain stayed longer for more than 1-2 years unless that name was Wasim Akram.

Even with the infighting going on. The team was still a very good unit people forget that. What transpired in that world cup will always remain a mystery.

 

[gazza619]

Not sure how these two lasted together for so long.,,

So much bad blood. PCB is to blame really for not sacking them in good time.

 

[Abdullah719]

This was Afridi. Apparently Afridi was of the opinion that our pace has always won us matches against India. As if we were living in the 80s and he was the reincarnation of Imran Khan

Afridi says he wanted to play a spinner (Imad) but Waqar wanted to play all pacers.

 

[sshakir411]

The only other cricket related thing Waqar was good at apart from bowling was being a bowling coach.

 

[haris93]

Pakistan former captain Shahid Afridi known for his gung-ho attitude on and off the field delved into the history he shared with former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, calling the bowling legend a ‘mediocre captain’ and ‘a terrible coach.’

I think That mediocre Captain had above 60% success rate Before WC 2003

 

[volcyz]

Funny thing was Waqar bowling 2 beamers at Symonds at the WC2003 and getting Shahid to finish the over

 

[Hawkeye]

Waqar valued performance and he was not of the type to give a long leash to toxicity, bad team work and did want to hold people accountable for poor show.

In PCB, that means people will hate you.

You cannot be held accountable here. And if you do try to make things performance based, players with big ego and zero substance will revolt.

Afridi was that toxic guy for the team.

Waqar is being hated on because a guy like Afridi didn't like him haha . That means waqar was good.

 

[mannimans]

Waqar valued performance and he was not of the type to give a long leash to toxicity, bad team work and did want to hold people accountable for poor show.

In PCB, that means people will hate you.

You cannot be held accountable here. And if you do try to make things performance based, players with big ego and zero substance will revolt.

Afridi was that toxic guy for the team.

Waqar is being hated on because a guy like Afridi didn't like him haha . That means waqar was good.

This post needs a like button!!

 

[Hawkeye]

This post needs a like button!!

Thanks.

For us, things would have been a lot better if toxic team players would have been booted out at the right time.

Afridi was clearly one of the biggest ones.

If you keep ignoring them, the toxicity spreads to other players and they form groups. That group pulls the team down and it shows in results.

In no high performance or high credibility organization such ego, lack of teamwork and lack of accountability is permitted.

ECB did show a spine at one point and kicked KP out.

PCB had more than one case and we should have dealt with them. But sadly, the lack of accountability is there even in the organization's top brass.

 

[mannimans]

Couldn't agree more. Its a shame more people can't recognise this as fact.

By throwing people under the bus, Afridi has just cemented his selfish character, and proves he'll do anything for a buck.

Pretty shameful if you ask me.

 

[Jabo]

He was absolutely correct about Waqar Younis being an awful coach.

Didn't care about the team but just his own retirement plan

 

[Markhor]

Secondly the same team that Waqar captained won the 2002 series against Australia in their home. Waqar was probably the first guy in a while to captain a team that defeated Australia in their home turf.

Pakistan was coming up with some good young names as well at that time, obviously the situation at that time was such that no captain stayed longer for more than 1-2 years unless that name was Wasim Akram.

Even with the infighting going on. The team was still a very good unit people forget that. What transpired in that world cup will always remain a mystery.

There's no mystery - that Australia series was an anomaly in 18 months worth of miserable form.

We got clobbered in South Africa with huge opening partnerships being conceded. We were embarassed by Australia in Sharjah (59 and 53 all out) on docile pitches. Before that we were abject in the 2002 CT, not even qualifying from the group stage. We also had a tri-series in Kenya and were struggling even to beat the hosts while getting hammered by Australia. We also had a meltdown in the Morocco tri-series just after that Australia series win.

The team atmosphere was toxic and Waqar had zero tactical nous as captain, too defensive and reactive with no man management skills. Yet we appointed him twice as coach where he bombed despite Australia unwilling to even hire him as bowling coach !

 

[Chokli]

There's no mystery - that Australia series was an anomaly in 18 months worth of miserable form.

We got clobbered in South Africa with huge opening partnerships being conceded. We were embarassed by Australia in Sharjah (59 and 53 all out) on docile pitches. Before that we were abject in the 2002 CT, not even qualifying from the group stage. We also had a tri-series in Kenya and were struggling even to beat the hosts while getting hammered by Australia. We also had a meltdown in the Morocco tri-series just after that Australia series win.

Even with the greatest team in recent memory we got hammered.

We've always been an average team with occasional World Class performances here and there.

 

[aukhan]

People shouldn't forget Waqar's tussle with Sarfraz last world cup. Waqar recommended Azhar Ali for captaincy just to please his ego. Apparently everyone dislikes Waqar for some reason.

Waqar is also named in Qayum's commission. The spot fixing fiasco in 2010 damages his credibility as well.

 

[waleed88]

There's no mystery - that Australia series was an anomaly in 18 months worth of miserable form.

We got clobbered in South Africa with huge opening partnerships being conceded. We were embarassed by Australia in Sharjah (59 and 53 all out) on docile pitches. Before that we were abject in the 2002 CT, not even qualifying from the group stage. We also had a tri-series in Kenya and were struggling even to beat the hosts while getting hammered by Australia. We also had a meltdown in the Morocco tri-series just after that Australia series win.

The team atmosphere was toxic and Waqar had zero tactical nous as captain, too defensive and reactive with no man management skills. Yet we appointed him twice as coach where he bombed despite Australia unwilling to even hire him as bowling coach !

Can't have it both ways. The same Waqar that was being hammered as a coach for the t20 world cup 2016, doesn't really get the credit when we talk about the relative 'success' of the 2011 campaign in the world cup.

Afridi might like to blame Waqar for everything, but let's be honest, both have been equally culpable in the peaks and troughts of their respective captaining and coaching career.

 

[waleed88]

People shouldn't forget Waqar's tussle with Sarfraz last world cup. Waqar recommended Azhar Ali for captaincy just to please his ego. Apparently everyone dislikes Waqar for some reason.

Waqar is also named in Qayum's commission. The spot fixing fiasco in 2010 damages his credibility as well.

That tussle was more in the media than with the player and coach. Not supporting Waqar here, he did some stupid things, however ever since Sarfraz has been captain when have you seen him bat as an opener?

I get it that people were irate over him not batting as an opener but if you look at Waqar's statements he said Sarf is a batsman that plays at no.6 no.7, so why was it an issue back then??

 

[waleed88]

There's no mystery - that Australia series was an anomaly in 18 months worth of miserable form.

We got clobbered in South Africa with huge opening partnerships being conceded. We were embarassed by Australia in Sharjah (59 and 53 all out) on docile pitches. Before that we were abject in the 2002 CT, not even qualifying from the group stage. We also had a tri-series in Kenya and were struggling even to beat the hosts while getting hammered by Australia. We also had a meltdown in the Morocco tri-series just after that Australia series win.

The team atmosphere was toxic and Waqar had zero tactical nous as captain, too defensive and reactive with no man management skills. Yet we appointed him twice as coach where he bombed despite Australia unwilling to even hire him as bowling coach !

In between we did have some Sharjah cup victories, reached the Natwest Trophy final and played some exciting cricket in Australia.

We did get hammered against a world class aussie lineup in test matches in 1999 (Wasim captain) and 2002 (Home series against Aussie with Waqar captain). The team Waqar had is there for everyone to see. There were no experienced or big names we went with a young team against the greatest cricketing side of its generation. And the first test match was pretty close to call. Lost by 40 odd runs in the end.

If you look at our history, besides the series in 1994 in home conditions. When have we managed to beat Australia in test matches? (Not counting the Misbah era)

Also when was the last time we won a series against Australia in ODIs? I can only think my mind back to 2002.

 

[waleed88]

Pakistan was one of the few teams that was expected to give a tough time to the Aussies in the world cup along with South Africa, since we were looking for revenge from the final loss of 1999.

We were one of the few sides to inflict losses to Australia in between the 1999 and 2003 world cups along with South Africa and India.

It turned out that we were far from the best teams of that tournament. Not even close actually.

However that doesn't mean the team was bad, on paper it was still a very good side.

 

[waleed88]

Afridi says he wanted to play a spinner (Imad) but Waqar wanted to play all pacers.

Please link me to the interview.

 

[waleed88]

Afridi says he wanted to play a spinner (Imad) but Waqar wanted to play all pacers.

Afridi is the same captain that didn't take the powerplay against India in the semi final of the world cup 2011. And then holed out against Harbhajan with all the fielders outside the circle

Not to mention the infamous ball biting incident.

 

[waleed88]

How can I forget retiring in the middle of a series against Australia after having lost the first test match.... that's a leader and a captain for you

 

[hitthestump]

on paper it was still a very good side.

On paper it was the easily most talented team in the World Cup. There were matchwinners in every position. Some might argue that the players were 'over the hill' squad but Akram was still getting that banana swing and Saeed Anwar ended up being Pak's highest scorer. In the end it was a travesty that a team of that caliber surrendered so meekly in the group stage.

 

[Abdullah719]

Please link me to the interview.

It's from his book.

Time for a brutal assessment. Bad decisions held us back in that tournament, my last one on the global stage. Bad selection held us back too. For example, I wanted to drop a fast-bowler and play Imad Wasim in the match against India at Kolkata. We needed a spinner. But Wiqi bhai and Intikhab Alam sahib wanted things their way.

 

[Markhor]

In between we did have some Sharjah cup victories, reached the Natwest Trophy final and played some exciting cricket in Australia.

We did get hammered against a world class aussie lineup in test matches in 1999 (Wasim captain) and 2002 (Home series against Aussie with Waqar captain). The team Waqar had is there for everyone to see. There were no experienced or big names we went with a young team against the greatest cricketing side of its generation. And the first test match was pretty close to call. Lost by 40 odd runs in the end.

If you look at our history, besides the series in 1994 in home conditions. When have we managed to beat Australia in test matches? (Not counting the Misbah era)

Also when was the last time we won a series against Australia in ODIs? I can only think my mind back to 2002.

We beat Australia throughout the 1980s. I accept Australia were an ATG side and would've beaten Pakistan 3-0 even if at full strength, but 59 and 53 was a shameful surrender.

As for reaching 2011 WC SF, we had a quality spin attack that were primed to exploit Asian conditions. However in 2015 WC and 2016 WT20, shorn of Ajmal and Hafeez, Waqar had no clue as to developing a Plan B.

 

[waleed88]

We beat Australia throughout the 1980s. I accept Australia were an ATG side and would've beaten Pakistan 3-0 even if at full strength, but 59 and 53 was a shameful surrender.

As for reaching 2011 WC SF, we had a quality spin attack that were primed to exploit Asian conditions. However in 2015 WC and 2016 WT20, shorn of Ajmal and Hafeez, Waqar had no clue as to developing a Plan B.

Our exploits in Champions Trophy and the games after that suggest that we haven't changed much as an ODI outfit. Apart from a time span where Hasan Ali was very effective in the middle overs, we lost 4-1 to Australia, 5-0 to New Zealand, 3-2 to South Africa and 5-0 to Australia in ODIs.

So whatever 'progress' that you are trying to refer to is the only anomalous champions trophy 2017 win. We have been a below par team besides that consistently.

Not to mention losing twice to India and once to Bangladesh in the Asian conditions in our so called 'home away from home'

 

[MenInG]

Shahid Afridi speaking at book launch tonight:

"I have always respected all senior players and will continue doing so in the future"
"If I have said something negative about anyone, then I have also praised them as well"
"No one person is an angel, even I have hundreds of faults"
"I have no personal issues against Waqar Younis and I do respect him a lot but there are issues that you will learn about when you read the book in detail"

 

[Hawkeye]

Waqar wasn't great, but wasn't as bad as Mickey Arthur either.

Ideally we need someone who's better than both.
[MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] [MENTION=135196]waleed88[/MENTION]

 

[The Viper]

Waqar wasn't great, but wasn't as bad as Mickey Arthur either.

Ideally we need someone who's better than both.
[MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] [MENTION=135196]waleed88[/MENTION]

Mickey is way better than Waqar. We have made progress under Mickey. He has his flaws but we have some promising young talent.

 

[Markhor]

Waqar wasn't great, but wasn't as bad as Mickey Arthur either.

Ideally we need someone who's better than both.
[MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] [MENTION=135196]waleed88[/MENTION]

Under Mickey we have moved from 9th to 6th in ODIs with an ICC trophy in the bag, and 7th to 1st in T20Is. Fitness and fielding has improved leaps and bounds too. He also developed the youth.

His Test record is poor but that's because we've a captain who refuses to take responsibility. Another 27 runs in two Abu Dhabi chases was the difference between keeping and losing our unbeaten UAE record.

 

[Hawkeye]

Mickey is way better than Waqar. We have made progress under Mickey. He has his flaws but we have some promising young talent.

Under Mickey we have moved from 9th to 6th in ODIs with an ICC trophy in the bag, and 7th to 1st in T20Is. Fitness and fielding has improved leaps and bounds too. He also developed the youth.

His Test record is poor but that's because we've a captain who refuses to take responsibility. Another 27 runs in two Abu Dhabi chases was the difference between keeping and losing our unbeaten UAE record.

Our record in ODIs is abysmal. On a losing streak since 2017 against the top 5 sides.

How good we really are, was shown to us soon after CT in the Asia Cup.

And, the only format where we were doing relatively well, Tests, we've regressed to minnow standards. We're not even able to win or draw at our "Home".

The superficial victories don't matter much. We had our sporadic highs and spikes under Waqar as well.


Both have delivered woeful results, and Mickey isn't much better even if you argue he's better.

 

[Markhor]

Our record in ODIs is abysmal. On a losing streak since 2017 against the top 5 sides.

How good we really are, was shown to us soon after CT in the Asia Cup.

And, the only format where we were doing relatively well, Tests, we've regressed to minnow standards. We're not even able to win or draw at our "Home".

The superficial victories don't matter much. We had our sporadic highs and spikes under Waqar as well.


Both have delivered woeful results, and Mickey isn't much better even if you argue he's better.

We've been losing more matches than we have won against top 5 sides for the past 15 years. This was a trend before Mickey.

As for Tests, we wouldn't even be talking about Mickey's Test record had Captain Fantastic produced just 27 more runs in two Abu Dhabi chases that should've been straightforward.

 

[Hasan123]

Waqar was a rubbish coach but Afridi was a rubbish captain and should have never been made captain. How can someone who just looks to swing from the hill from ball 1 regardless of the situation be a captain?

We are pathetic when it comes to selecting captains since Inzi retired other than Misbah appointment in tests.

 

[Chokli]

Waqar was a rubbish coach but Afridi was a rubbish captain and should have never been made captain. How can someone who just looks to swing from the hill from ball 1 regardless of the situation be a captain?

We are pathetic when it comes to selecting captains since Inzi retired other than Misbah appointment in tests.

in 2007 might as well have made Yousuf captain since Younis didn't want it and Malik was Malik.

 

[Hasan123]

in 2007 might as well have made Yousuf captain since Younis didn't want it and Malik was Malik.

He had temperamental issues. He was never a captain. Younis was being prepared for captaincy. Once he turned it down, we were in trouble for options at that period.

 

[Chokli]

He had temperamental issues. He was never a captain. Younis was being prepared for captaincy. Once he turned it down, we were in trouble for options at that period.

Yeah I can't argue with you on that point, it's true.

I'd have to put the blame on Younis Khan tbh.

He shouldn't have accepted it in 2009 either, if he was going to accept it should have accepted it in 2007.

Accepting it in 2009 caused so many issues after the Malik fiasco.

 

[Hasan123]

Yeah I can't argue with you on that point, it's true.

I'd have to put the blame on Younis Khan tbh.

He shouldn't have accepted it in 2009 either, if he was going to accept it should have accepted it in 2007.

Accepting it in 2009 caused so many issues after the Malik fiasco.

Ideally YK would have been permanent captain in tests and ODIs. Malik for T20s. If YK failed in ODIs, Malik should have then taken over. Malik should have been kept well away from tests . That was a awful decision. Also PCB didn't help Malik by backing senior players over him. I think losing the captaincy affected his confidence for a while. So much so now making him captain in any form of cricket is stupid. I think Malik could have been a decent LO captain. I know he has been rubbish when he has captained recently but I think he doesn't have any interest in being captain due to what happened when he was made captain originally.

I hope PCB get the next appointment right and back that player.

 

[MenInG]

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made quite a few startling revelations in his recently-launched autobiography 'Game Changer.' In his book, Afridi, who slammed a sensational 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in his debut series for Pakistan, revealed that he used the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's bat to play the stellar knock. In one of the chapters of his book, Afridi relives the build-up to the terrific knock and narrates how he ended up using Sachin's bat.

Afridi made his international debut in a tri-nation series in Kenya and was batting for the first time in international cricket when he played one of his most memorable knocks ever. He slammed a century off 37 balls en-route to a brilliant 102 off 40 balls which was laced with six fours and eleven sixes as he took the Sri Lankan bowlers to the cleaners. Afridi's ton was the fastest by any batsman in ODIs until Corey Anderson broke the record in 2014 with a 36-ball hundred against West Indies.

In his autobiography, Afridi reveals that Sachin had gifted his bat to Waqar Younis to get a custom-made replica made of it in Sialkot - the sports goods manufacturing capital of Pakistan but as destiny would have it the bat before landing in Sialkot ended-up in Afridi's hands and the all-rounder tonked the Lankan bowlers all around the park announcing his arrival for Pakistan.

"But guess what Waqar did before he took it to Sialkot? He gave it to me, before I went in to bat. So effectively, that first century in Nairobi by Shahid Afridi was made with Sachin Tendulkar's best bat. Go figure," Afridi wrote in his book, talking about the incident.

Afridi was playing his 2nd ODI for Pakistan and batting for the first time ever as he had not got a chance to bat in his debut game. His 37-ball hundred was a then ODI record and the fact that the feat was achieved by a 16-year-old made it more special. However, Afridi in his book has revealed that he was not 16 but 19 when he made his international debut.

In his book, he also revealed how he had dreamt of smashing sixes against the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan a night before his knock. He had told his roommate Shadab Kabir about the dream before turning it into a reality on the pitch. "'I had a dream that I was slamming Jayasuriya and Muralitharan and Dharmasena for sixes,' I said. 'Big, huge sixes.' 'Let's pray it happens, brother,' said Shadab'," Afridi wrote in his book.

Jayasuriya and Muralitharan finished with figures of 94/3 and 73/2 in their ten overs respectively as Afridi's blazing knock powered Pakistan to a staggering total of 371/9 in 50 overs. Pakistan won the game by 82 runs after bundling out Sri Lanka for 289 runs.

Afridi in his book also opened up on the mystery surrounding his real age and revealed that he made his debut at the age of 19 and not 16. "For the record, I was just nineteen, and not sixteen like they claim. I was born in 1975. So, yes, the authorities stated my age incorrectly," he wrote in his book.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...onal-37-ball-century-against-sri-lanka/412929

 

[MenInG]

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made quite a few startling revelations in his recently-launched autobiography 'Game Changer.' In his book, Afridi, who slammed a sensational 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in his debut series for Pakistan, revealed that he used the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's bat to play the stellar knock. In one of the chapters of his book, Afridi relives the build-up to the terrific knock and narrates how he ended up using Sachin's bat.

Afridi made his international debut in a tri-nation series in Kenya and was batting for the first time in international cricket when he played one of his most memorable knocks ever. He slammed a century off 37 balls en-route to a brilliant 102 off 40 balls which was laced with six fours and eleven sixes as he took the Sri Lankan bowlers to the cleaners. Afridi's ton was the fastest by any batsman in ODIs until Corey Anderson broke the record in 2014 with a 36-ball hundred against West Indies.

In his autobiography, Afridi reveals that Sachin had gifted his bat to Waqar Younis to get a custom-made replica made of it in Sialkot - the sports goods manufacturing capital of Pakistan but as destiny would have it the bat before landing in Sialkot ended-up in Afridi's hands and the all-rounder tonked the Lankan bowlers all around the park announcing his arrival for Pakistan.

"But guess what Waqar did before he took it to Sialkot? He gave it to me, before I went in to bat. So effectively, that first century in Nairobi by Shahid Afridi was made with Sachin Tendulkar's best bat. Go figure," Afridi wrote in his book, talking about the incident.

Afridi was playing his 2nd ODI for Pakistan and batting for the first time ever as he had not got a chance to bat in his debut game. His 37-ball hundred was a then ODI record and the fact that the feat was achieved by a 16-year-old made it more special. However, Afridi in his book has revealed that he was not 16 but 19 when he made his international debut.

In his book, he also revealed how he had dreamt of smashing sixes against the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan a night before his knock. He had told his roommate Shadab Kabir about the dream before turning it into a reality on the pitch. "'I had a dream that I was slamming Jayasuriya and Muralitharan and Dharmasena for sixes,' I said. 'Big, huge sixes.' 'Let's pray it happens, brother,' said Shadab'," Afridi wrote in his book.

Jayasuriya and Muralitharan finished with figures of 94/3 and 73/2 in their ten overs respectively as Afridi's blazing knock powered Pakistan to a staggering total of 371/9 in 50 overs. Pakistan won the game by 82 runs after bundling out Sri Lanka for 289 runs.

Afridi in his book also opened up on the mystery surrounding his real age and revealed that he made his debut at the age of 19 and not 16. "For the record, I was just nineteen, and not sixteen like they claim. I was born in 1975. So, yes, the authorities stated my age incorrectly," he wrote in his book.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...onal-37-ball-century-against-sri-lanka/412929

so for all the bad stuff about Waqar, seems he gave him Sachin's bat to play!

 

[waleed88]

Under Mickey we have moved from 9th to 6th in ODIs with an ICC trophy in the bag, and 7th to 1st in T20Is. Fitness and fielding has improved leaps and bounds too. He also developed the youth.

His Test record is poor but that's because we've a captain who refuses to take responsibility. Another 27 runs in two Abu Dhabi chases was the difference between keeping and losing our unbeaten UAE record.

Again can't have it both ways.

He had Misbah and Younis for a while before they retired. His failure is his ability to find the replacement for Younis and Misbah both. He opted for the young superstars. Fawad Alam was last in the test match squad under Waqar's management.

Pakistan's ODI ranking doesn't mean much when you are being smacked around left right and center against the big teams.

We are still unable to chase 300+ or 250+ for that matter.

The relative improvement in young names coming in are more because of PSL than Mickey's own involvement with finding the names. It is still a debatable topic how much 'relative' improvement was brought under Mickey.

1st in a t20 is arbitrary and I would rather take a respectable test match ranking because it is still considered the bigger format of the two.