Former Pakistan skipper, Wasim Akram, has revealed that Shahid Afridi approached him for advice before being axed from Pakistan’s One Day International (ODI) team captaincy.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ijaz Butt, recently dismissed Afridi after his media outburst against coach, Waqar Younis. The Board’s controversial decision faced a mixed response from cricketing circles.
While the former Chairman of the board, Lt. General (retd) Tauqir Zia and the former leg-spinner Abdul Qadirtermed it as an irrational move, the former pacer, Sarfraz Nawaz, cited it as a good step for the betterment of national cricket.
Akram, who had earlier described that the decision of sacking Afridi defies logic, admitted that he gave Afridi some valuable advice when he was contacted by the flamboyant all-rounder just before being sacked.
"Afridi called me to tell me that he had spoken against Waqar and asked me what should I do? I told him do this... do that, (but) the next day he was sacked", Akram said.
The legendary fast bowler further made it clear that the lack of consistency from PCB is the prime reason behind Pakistan’s failure in the world cricket over the years.
The former left-arm pacer described, "Passion is not the reason (why Pakistan can`t dominate). There is a lot of passion, but it is the lack of consistency from the team as well as the PCB. It affects the whole system".
"As a captain you have to know your players, but in Pakistan you also have to know the PCB Chairman", he added sarcastically.
Akram is currently shouldering his responsibilities as bowling coach for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League. The Knight Riders are presently sitting at the fourth position in the standings and scheduled to face Mumbai Indians in the elimination round on Wednesday, May 25, 2011.
Expressing full support to Lakshmipathy Balaji, who gave away 23 runs in the final over, in the recent game against Sachin Tendulkar and company, Akram stated that he has not yet spoken to him.
However, the former swing-master hoped that the Kolkata side will come up with an improved performance in the next game.
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