Afridi should reconsider decision to retire: Misbah
Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq has advised flamboyant all-rounder, Shahid Afridi to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket and believes he still has some years of cricket left in him.
Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq has advised flamboyant all-rounder, Shahid Afridi to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket and believes he still has some years of cricket left in him.
"Look, if you ask me, I think Afridi can still play for Pakistan as he still has some years of international cricket left in him. But what he wants to do is entirely his own decision," Misbah told reporters at the national stadium on Thursday.
"I can only advise him to rethink his retirement decision and decide once for all what he wants to do. But I would maintain he still can play international cricket," the senior batsman said.
Misbah was appointed captain in all three formats of the sport after Afridi announced his sudden retirement in late May in protest against the cricket board's decision to remove him as captain after the West Indies tour after a dispute with coach, Waqar Younis who has now resigned.
Misbah also made it clear that he didn't feel threatened if Afridi returned to the team. "That is not an issue for me if the board appoints me captain fine if not I have no problems. But first Afridi must decide what he wants to do because recently he did very well in England. Once he decides to return to international cricket, than it is up to the management to decide what they want to do my role comes in much later," Misbah added.
He made it clear he had no personal issues with Afridi who had led Pakistan to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals early this year.
Asked about who should be the next coach of the Pakistan team, Misbah made it clear the board had not asked for his views on the matter as yet and he would only give his views when they sought for it.
"But generally, I feel there is a need for a chief coach with authority who can sit down with the captain and take the big decisions. The other coaches be it for batting, bowling or fielding are there to assist the players but we need a chief coach to make the decisions and work with the captain," he added.