"The PSL could have been completed even with only local/young players involved" : Shahid Afridi

[MenInG]

"The PSL could have been completed even with only local/young players involved" : Shahid Afridi

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Despite a challenging situation, I feel the PSL could have been completed even with only local/young players involved. PSL is all about nurturing new talent. The tournament was very entertaining and provided quality cricket to fans around the world. 1/2</p>— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1367506471630610437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Indiafan]

Are local/young players expendable?

 

[wasimjunior]

What a stupid comment. Says it all

 

[ahmadharis1]

I wouldn't watch that.

 

[Rana]

So it seems that the overseas players have caused a hoo haa?

 

[Sohaib]

I would criticize Afridi but may be he meant or at least I hope so, quarantine the local players and after couple of weeks resume the tournament behind closed doors with local players only in very strict bio bubble this time. No franchise owners, no hamaray hero segments, nothing of that sort.



Two weeks of quarantine would mean 20th March and if foreign players and coaches are willing to stay, though I doubt they would, and have no other cricket commitments then resume the tournament from there on wards.


But maintaining a bio-secure bubble itself doesn't seems to be possible.

 

[MenInG]

Makes a good point but playing without foreign players would really kill the competition.

 

[mazkhan]

Agree with afridi

If you look at the stats the top run scorers wicket takers are all pakistanis .

The white players are all washed up yesterdays hasbeens .

Would people of stopped watching because a 37 yr old dan Christian didn't want to play.

 

[Saj]

Are local players immune to Covid-19?

Can someone show me which medical journal confirms this?

 

[Varun]

A quote that sums up the situation/attitude in a nutshell.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Can this man child just stay out of adult matters. Go catch a ball.

No nobody wants to watch your mediocre so called "kids" playing club cricket on their tv.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

The overseas players might have caused the decision! Poor from Afridi and sums up the mindset!

 

[ads101]

You could have perfectly had a tournament with only Pakistani players at the start to try and limit covid. Other boards and foreign players would have totally understood. I'm sure Pakistani fans would have watched the PSL still, after all it's still the big Pakistani names which will get the biggest support. You could always bring back foreign players back for the next edition.

Doing it now and finishing with local players, this is just foolish. It's not alright to put Pakistani players in danger. The correct decision was postponing it.

 

[Saj]

Unfortunately this is the mentality of so many Asians around the world, whether it's Pakistan, UK, Middle-East etc. They think they are invincible, they are ignorant, they flout the rules, they flout the laws, as if the disease will not affect them.

 

[guldozer]

Unfortunately this is the mentality of so many Asians around the world, whether it's Pakistan, UK, Middle-East etc. They think they are invincible, they are ignorant, they flout the rules, they flout the laws, as if the disease will not affect them.

I have seen this first hand in the UK.

 

[guldozer]

The worse thing is, this attitude is also the same with desis who have also been badly affected by Covid.

It drives me insane.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

So it seems that the overseas players have caused a hoo haa?

Yes. They were worried about their health and family and cannot trust PCB to provide a safe environment.
Local players, even if they had issues cannot say anything for the fear of repercussions from the PCB authorities.

 

[Suleiman]

Unfortunately this is the mentality of so many Asians around the world, whether it's Pakistan, UK, Middle-East etc. They think they are invincible, they are ignorant, they flout the rules, they flout the laws, as if the disease will not affect them.

It’s the same with Americans from the Southern States, but also all around the world. This isn’t just an Asian thing.

Pride and ignorance blinds all humans. Period.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Unfortunately this is the mentality of so many Asians around the world, whether it's Pakistan, UK, Middle-East etc. They think they are invincible, they are ignorant, they flout the rules, they flout the laws, as if the disease will not affect them.

[MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] well I am not sure about Britain but there was a lot of Lax attitude from some 'Local' Australians as well. Some of it was downright stupid like arguing with poor checkout girl at supermarket when she asked them to wear mask.
The difference I feel is the rule of law and its enforcement. Here also people break traffic rules when they feel no one is looking, despite the hefty fines, whereas most of the Asians follow the law.

 

[JattMaula]

Lala again providing solutions instead of complaining. Be like lala.

 

[Giannis]

This guy doesn't know a thing about science and medicine and he clearly sees Pakistani cricketers as either subhumans whose lives don't matter or superhumans who are immune to covid

 

[Savak]

Wasim Akram himself aggressively demanded to be let go from the hotel and be let go from the PSL due to this outbreak.

 

[Hasan123]

These comments make me think that some of the overseas players were not feeling safe in whatever bio bubble they were in. And this is a real real concern for Pakistan hopes of hosting teams. Genuinely wouldn’t blame a team pulling out of a tour to Pakistan due to worries about safety in a bio bubble. Remember there are so many leagues these days, so all these players know each other so word will spread amongst players about this . This is damaging stuff for the PCB and Wasim Khan.

 

[Majid Khan]

Unfortunately this is the mentality of so many Asians around the world, whether it's Pakistan, UK, Middle-East etc. They think they are invincible, they are ignorant, they flout the rules, they flout the laws, as if the disease will not affect them.

They also think that they are courageous while others are cowardly , because others take safety precautions seriously while they are out there to prove it’s nothing to be afraid of..

Afridi’s comment gives exactly this impression reading between the lines , as in it’s the foreign players who are reluctant and overreacting , we will carry on happily.

 

[Varun]

Also - this statement also proves that T20 leagues are junk and it doesn't matter which teams /players exist as long as it serves as a billboard for ads every night.

 

[someone21]

He is not praising, rather calling local players as “disposable”.

He thinks the local players doesnt deserve the safety, care and protection in this pandemic year...

 

[Devadwal]

Good decision to postponed

 

[Gotham Cronie]

So the National T20 Cup, then?

 

[Saj]

They also think that they are courageous while others are cowardly , because others take safety precautions seriously while they are out there to prove it’s nothing to be afraid of..

Afridi’s comment gives exactly this impression reading between the lines , as in it’s the foreign players who are reluctant and overreacting , we will carry on happily.

Absolutely.

And exactly the mentality that meant so many of the foreign players didn't think twice about leaving the PSL.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Absolutely.

And exactly the mentality that meant so many of the foreign players didn't think twice about leaving the PSL.

These are athletes not elderly people. Those tested positive should leave the rest should continue, as is happening with the PL which has had many more positive tests. Healthy people recover quickly, some dont even feel symptoms.

Not playing professional sports because of a pandemic is a huge farce.

 

[Saj]

These are athletes not elderly people. Those tested positive should leave the rest should continue, as is happening with the PL which has had many more positive tests. Healthy people recover quickly, some dont even feel symptoms.

Not playing professional sports because of a pandemic is a huge farce.

It's a matter of life and death, not a joke.

The franchise owners asked their players whether they wanted to cintinue. Most said no.

So which of your athletes were you going to continue with?

 

[mazkhan]

Kkwc has a point in premier league players have tested positive been sidelined isolated gone through the procedures and comeback and clubs have continued playing.

This kneejerk shutdown of the whole tournament was unnecessary unless the true nature of the infections have not been revealed and were a huge number.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

This kneejerk shutdown of the whole tournament was unnecessary unless the true nature of the infections have not been revealed and were a huge number.

You wanted to continue the PSL with just local players? So basically the National T20 Cup?

The broadcasters, advertisers, etc... don't pay for that.

 

[KingKhanWC]

It's a matter of life and death, not a joke.

The franchise owners asked their players whether they wanted to cintinue. Most said no.

So which of your athletes were you going to continue with?

The Premier League has the most expensive athletes in the world. Dozens have tested positive this season but the game continues. No athlete has died, not even close to being a serious state. Only weak or elderly die, the rest recover quickly.

Destroying ones own brand and losing money when no player will become very ill is a stupidy.

We dont know the names or numbers of those who said no or said yes. A few said no esp foriegners so others followed suit.

This is why cricket will always remain behind sports such as football.

 

[Saj]

Only weak or elderly die, the rest recover quickly.

Exactly the attitude that has seen the PSL postponed due to people with such a mentality.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

A few said no esp foriegners so others followed suit.

This is why cricket will always remain behind sports such as football.

The foreigners were leaving.

The broadcasters, advertisers, etc... don't pay for a National T20 Cup.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Exactly the attitude that has seen the PSL postponed due to people with such a mentality.

Speaking such facts would have been better from the start. Scaring ppl hasnt worked out.

The foreigners were leaving.

The broadcasters, advertisers, etc... don't pay for a National T20 Cup.

They werent made to feel comfortable as everyone started to pull their hair out after a handful of athletes tested positive.

Thank God English football are the most sane.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

They werent made to feel comfortable as everyone started to pull their hair out after a handful of athletes tested positive.

Thank God English football are the most sane.

Ok, but they were leaving. So how could the PSL continue?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Ok, but they were leaving. So how could the PSL continue?

What Afridi said, play with whoever is available. The notion this somehow would have discredited the PSL is not correct, as next year the foriegners will be back , more than before because they earn good money.

Its done now but we have a half played tournament lignering for months.

 

[Bewal Express]

It's a matter of life and death, not a joke.

The franchise owners asked their players whether they wanted to cintinue. Most said no.

So which of your athletes were you going to continue with?

Surely a 10 day hiatus with full testing and vaccination would have helped with the continuation. Then make sure that SOPS were actually followed and not just lip service was paid.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

What Afridi said, play with whoever is available. The notion this somehow would have discredited the PSL is not correct, as next year the foriegners will be back , more than before because they earn good money.

Its done now but we have a half played tournament lignering for months.

Again, there's a reason that the money from the broadcasters, advertisers, etc... isn't there for the National T20 Cup.

They've paid for franchise cricket with foreign players and they'll take it later rather than watch the Sohail Tanvir and Sohail Akhtars of the world.

 

[Slog]

Surely a 10 day hiatus with full testing and vaccination would have helped with the continuation. Then make sure that SOPS were actually followed and not just lip service was paid.

Foreign players sign up for a specific number of days. Why would they stay holed up in hotels for 10 days for no reason.

I cannot blame the foreign players here. Apart from the risk of catching COVID; an equally bigger deal is that they were given assurances of a safe environment with strict follow of bio secure bubbles and protocols. The PCB and the franchises didn’t hold their end of the bargains

 

[Slog]

The Premier League has the most expensive athletes in the world. Dozens have tested positive this season but the game continues. No athlete has died, not even close to being a serious state. Only weak or elderly die, the rest recover quickly.

Destroying ones own brand and losing money when no player will become very ill is a stupidy.

We dont know the names or numbers of those who said no or said yes. A few said no esp foriegners so others followed suit.

This is why cricket will always remain behind sports such as football.

The Premier League clubs and the League as a whole has managed a very strict COVID bubble and there has been very little if any breaches. The affected players are immediately isolated and there has not been cases of virus outbreaks in a squad due to lax rules enforcement. PSL didn’t manage to do any of these.

 

[MenInG]

The PSL can only be completed when proper processes are in place for protecting all involved. No point having a PSL with local players and half of them getting infected along the way.

 

[topspin]

Dumb comment from Afridi.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Afridi is an ignorant fool. What else is new?

 

[MenInG]

Shahid Afridi speaking to the press:

"No plan seemed clear regarding the PSL from the PCB. It was wrong to postpone the tournament because of the coronavirus positive cases. They should have isolated the individuals who tested positive and continued the tournament. No planning was done beforehand by the PCB which is really saddening”

 

[Saj]

Shahid Afridi speaking to the press:

"No plan seemed clear regarding the PSL from the PCB. It was wrong to postpone the tournament because of the coronavirus positive cases. They should have isolated the individuals who tested positive and continued the tournament. No planning was done beforehand by the PCB which is really saddening”

But surely the risk of it spreading will still have been there, given that the players who had tested positive had been in contact with team-mates?

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

But surely the risk of it spreading will still have been there, given that the players who had tested positive had been in contact with team-mates?

I don't think any one take afridi seriously anyways..
Just like gambhir over here ..

 

[MenInG]

More Afridi quotes:

"Let me say about PSL that its a well-known Pakistan brand and is a matter of honour for us"

"When you hold such an event for a big brand like PSL, you must have a plan B but I did not see that"

"You know the sort of situation this world is going through and it is quite possible that COVID-19 could be detected in 2-3 players so the question is - what was your plan B in order to cover this eventuality? I did not see a plan B from PCB for the PSL"

"I feel that PSL should not have been cancelled, the overseas (goray) players who wished to leave, would have left; those with COVID-19 should have been quarantined, and maybe some would have stayed back - and there are ways of dealing with this situation"