Yawar convinced Afridi to end exile from Test: Sources

Karachi:

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed was the one who convinced all-rounder Shahid Afridi to change his mind of quitting Test cricket, sources said.

Well-informed sources said that Yawar was the man behind Afridi's decision to make himself available for the Test series in England.

Afridi, who had not played Test cricket since mid 2006, announced yesterday that he was ready to play in the longer version apparently staking his claim to be appointed for all formats of the game.

Sources said Afridi will meet the PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt on Monday or Tuesday before the Board announces the captain of the Asia Cup and the full tour of England this summer.

Afridi captained Pakistan in the recent World Twenty20 and he is being tipped to be named skipper for the June 15-25 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

"Yawar is playing a key role in cricket affairs these days from behind the scenes. He has a big influence on the decisions being taken by Afridi and also by Ejaz Butt," one source added.

"Yawar has given Ejaz Butt a complete briefing on the way the players behaved and on the atmosphere of the team in the Twenty20 World Cup under Afridi's captaincy. He is the one who is trying to convince Butt that Afridi is the best choice to lead Pakistan in all formats in England," source added.

Yawar, who has been manager of the national team in more than 25 tours so far, was brought back as manager for the World Twenty20 after the PCB inquiry committee formed to probe into the disastrous Australian tour banned and fined seven players.

Yawar was a member of the inquiry committee despite former captain Younus Khan blaming him for instigating a group of players in the team to revolt against him.

"There is no doubt that it is Yawar who played an influential role in convincing the inquiry committee to ban Younus for an indefinite period (in the wake of the Australian tour)," the source said.