Team behaved well, captaincy bogged down Afridi: Pak manager

Karachi:

Unlike their Indian counterparts, Pakistani players steered clear of controversy in the World Twenty20, prompting team manager Yawar Saeed to laud them for their immaculate conduct in the West Indies.

While six Indian cricketers got involved in a pub brawl in St Lucia which earned them show cause notice from the Board, the Pakistani players put behind their dubious track record of infighting and discipline issues and maintained a squeaky clean image in the Caribbeans.

Saeed said even though he was upset as the team could not progress beyond semifinal, the players' behaviour was exemplary throughout the tournament.

"It was a huge disappointment to lose the semifinals from a winning position. But generally I am happy we faced no disciplinary problems in the West Indies and all the players were well behaved and supportive of each other," Saeed told reporters after the team's return from the West Indies today.

This was a welcome break for the team which has been plagued by disciplinary issues on most of its tours.

Leaked video recordings of the proceedings of a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry committee have shown that there was disunity and intrigues in the team when Pakistan toured the UAE, New Zealand and Australia between October last year and February, 2010.

The inquiry committee proceedings led to bans and fines on seven leading players and Yawar returning as manager and Afridi being appointed as captain for the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan's title defence did not materialise in the Caribbeans and the team manager felt the pressure of captaincy had affected Shahid Afridi's personal form.

"Yes, captaincy did affect Afridi's own form in this tournament but overall he did a good job," Yawar said.

He said except for wicketkeeper, Kamran Akmal all players had returned home.

"Kamran has stayed back in London as he has a shooting commitment for an Indian film and he had taken prior permission from the board," he added.