Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has raised a question about Shahid Afridi’s presence in the Pakistan Twenty20 line-up, and blamed favouritism for the domestic system’s failure to throw up quality talent.“How can you have a player when no one knows how he will perform?” Miandad, the former Pakistan captain, told Aaj channel, according to PTI.
“Afridi’s time in the team was over a few years back.
“How can you expect to win or improve your cricket when a player who stopped being a reliable performer some years ago is still playing in the national team? He is (also the) captain.”
Shahid Afridi, the most capped T201 player in the world has played 92 of Pakistan’s 100 matches and has led the team to 17 wins in 37 games. But Pakistan has lost three of their four last matches, the lone win came against UAE in the ongoing Asia Cup.
The lack of consistency in the team ranks also didn’t go down well with Miandad, a legend of the game and a former coach of the national side. “The fact is many of our players lack cricket sense and aptitude,” he said. “They are over-protected. They are saying the Pakistan Super League will produce talent. I didn’t see any player in the PSL who is so good that he can get a contract in the Big Bash or IPL.”
Hitting out at the state first back in Pakistan, Miandad went on, “You still have the parchi (slip) system in domestic cricket even at the district level. It only looks good on the surface but in reality, it is not producing quality players.”
Holding the Pakistan Cricket Board responsible for not doing enough, Miandad added, “Don’t they know what is happening? Don’t they see what is happening to our cricket? I say sack this selection committee and players who don’t perform. Nowadays, we have a trend where players play because of the media.”
Pakistan has lost to India by five wickets and won against UAE by seven wickets in Asia Cup.