Sharjah
When Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq sat out a dead rubber against Australia, Shahid Afridi, the stand-in captain for the match, managed to stir up a controversy in the one press conference that he attended.
And this is not first time that “Boom Boom” has created an unwarranted scenario like this.
Misbah, who has been struggling for form, did what usually no captain does in today’s international cricket. He bravely allowed a senior player to lead the team. The gentleman that Misbah is showed that he puts his country’s interest over and above his personal glory and even captaincy.
Afridi, after taking charge, did what no other stand-in captains would have done.
“I think whoever is captain - Misbah or me - we should know about it. If I am to captain in the World Cup then I should know about it,” he said in Abu Dhabi after Pakistan lost by one run.
This statement revealed that Afridi, who was only asked to stand in as captain only for the third match, harbours ambitions to lead Pakistan in the World Cup despite knowing well that Misbah has been appointed till the 2015 World Cup.
He even gave an interview to a cricket website saying: “I am not Misbah, and Misbah is not me.” All these created doubts among Pakistan supporters whether it would be better if Afridi leads the side.
Nipped in the bud
Fortunately, Shahryar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman quickly stepped in to categorically state that Misbah has been appointed till the World Cup and went on to snub Afridi for his irresponsible statements.
Realising that PCB has taken strong exception to his remark, Afridi did a volte face by pledging his support for Misbah: “Misbah is the best choice as Pakistan captain for the ICC World Cup 2015.”
Everyone knows that the bane of Pakistan cricket has been the lack of cooperation between their senior players. From the seventies, they have a history of senior players pulling down their captain - one of the reasons why despite being en extremely gifted side, Pakistan remained slight under-achievers.
Afridi, being one of the most experienced players in the team should have acted in a more responsible manner. The damage has now been done and if Pakistan do not start winning in one-day matches and if Misbah fails to regain his form, the demand for a change in captaincy will come to the fore and there will be a huge section wanting Afridi to take charge.
Leading light
Misbah has carried the mantle of Pakistan’s captaincy since 2008. It was him who put an end to the trend of Pakistan having a new captain almost every two to three months. He showed a maturity which was needed as a leader and refused to indulge in loose talk. Even though alleged to be defensive by nature, he still won matches.
Misbah’s interaction with the media too has been commendable and even in defeats, he never lost his cool nor got carried away by success. Afridi, on the other hand, spoke whatever he felt without thinking of the consequences.
Being aggressive on the field too does not always bring in success as certain decorum has to be also maintained.
It should be noted that Afridi’s aggressiveness and eagerness to win by hook or crook had led him to getting banned for two Twenty20 matches over biting the ball towards the end of the Commonwealth Bank One Day series in Australia in January 2010. After the Lord’s Test against Australia in July 2010, he announced his retirement from Test cricket citing lack of temperament for Test cricket.
Pakistan team is now made up of inexperienced youngsters. They need a captain who can be inspiring and not temperamental. Knowing that Misbah would be past 40, the PCB should have groomed a young captain.
Unfortunately, the PCB was embroiled in a huge crisis with the seat of the chairman turning into a musical chair.
All top teams for the World Cup have got a strong back-up for their present captains except Pakistan. None of these teams have their experienced players making statements hitting out at selection committees or projecting themselves as eligible captains for the World Cup.
It’s time the green shirts focus on regaining the Cup they so famously won Down Under in 1992.
