Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi Reveals His Biggest Regret In Cricket
Jan 2, 2017 at 7:28 PM
Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has been a threat to bowlers over the years, be it a fast or a turner but as a person, he has some regrets too. Speaking to GEO TV recently, the right-handed batsman revealed his biggest regret in the game and it’s not his careless, casual attitude, which has cost his numbers, his reputation and his prominence as a batsman in world cricket.
The all-rounder did not shy away from accepting the loss to India in the 2011 ICC World Cup semi-final was something he as a captain and as a player will always regret. The history, however, hasn’t been kind to Pakistan when it comes down to facing India in the World Cups. Men in Blue in their seven encounters with their arch-rivals have triumphed on all occasions leaving their neighbours in much distress.
“We came very close to winning that World Cup. Not winning it as a captain is regretful. I think it was Pakistan’s best ever performance in a world cup in a very long time.”
The semi-final of 2011 ended India sealing the berth in the finals by 29 runs. India, who batted first scored 260 runs on the board with 86 of them falling in Sachin Tendulkar’s kitty. One of the few factors that went against the Pakistan’s favour was their fielding. Sloppy, sluggish and inattentive are the better words the same. Second reason was the side’s inability to make a comeback from a losing situation.
Pakistan, who after the attacks on the Sri Lankan players in 2009 in Karachi were denied a chance of hosting International matches on their soil until the proceedings resumed in 2015 when Zimbabwe toured them for three One Day Internationals and two Twenty-20 matches. Shahid Afridi, being a bigger name in the country voiced that cricket should be back in Pakistan and its the responsibility of the players to do so.
“It is the responsibility of every international Pakistani cricketer, including mine, to try to bring back international cricket to Pakistan. I think international teams should visit Pakistan. People here love cricket and have been deprived of it for too long”, he concluded.