Afridi replies to notice, likely to get reprieve

Pakistan's one-day skipper Shahid Afridi has submitted his reply to the show-cause notice issued to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board for statements in the media about his differences with the team management.

A PCB source said the Board had received Afridi's reply but did not give details of what the flamboyant all-rounder has stated in his response.

Afridi was served a notice by the PCB for saying that there were problems in the team management during the West Indies tour and although he didn't take the name of head coach Waqar Younis, media carried reports about their differences over selection issues.

Sources said Afridi has basically spelled out that he just made a general statement to the media and didn't take any names and that he had always wanted only the betterment of Pakistan cricket.

The PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt had said that he would look into the issue of whether Younis was interfering in selection issues after studying the manager's report at the end of the West Indies tour.

Sources said that Afridi is likely to get reprieve because the special committee formed by the PCB to give suggestions for the betterment of cricket, had a soft corner for him.

The special committee includes governing board members Mir Haider Talpur, Major Naeem, Amir Nawab and Chaudary Anwar. Sources said the committee had also played a lead role in diffusing a potential controversy when chief selector Mohsin Khan had threatened to resign due to Younis' interference in selection matters.

One member said the committee want the issues to be resolved amicably as Pakistan cricket could not afford any more unnecessary controversies.

"This is an internal matter between the team and the Board and should be resolved behind closed doors as Pakistan cricket needs to move on," he added.