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| June 1, 2005 | Wednesday | Rabi-us-Sani 23, 1426 |
Afridi has apologized to Younis, says PCB chief
BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), May 31: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shaharyar M. Khan, observed on Monday that incident involving stand-in skipper Younis Khan and all-rounder Shahid Afridi was regrettable and it partially affected the team spirit in the opening Test against West Indies.
“Things have settled down and Inzamamul Haq and his team are looking forward to win the second Test in Kingston and square the two match series,” he said before leaving for London.
“Afridi had apologized to Younis about his behaviour. I was disappointed the way issue was made a mountain in the media back home. These kinds of things develop even among real brothers,” he asserted.
He remarked Afridi exchanged hot words with Younis regarding his batting position on the eve of first Test. Afridi wanted to bat down the order, but Younis wanted him to open the innings.
The PCB chief categorically denied that any scuffle or brawl took place between the two players. “This issue was unnecessarily exaggerated by the Pakistani media.”
He added that Inzamam, who did not play in the match because of one-Test ban, was not in the dressing-room when this incident took place.
A meeting was held among the touring selection committee comprising the captain (Inzamam) and vice-captain (Younis) to resolve the problems amicably.
The PCB chairman also denied that senior batsman Yousuf Youhana left home due to differences in the team. “His father was seriously sick in Lahore and he wanted to be with him at this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, the cricket board want West Indies to make a full tour of Pakistan which is schedule to take place tentatively in December 2006, according to the PCB chief. “It is important for us that West Indies should make a full tour of Pakistan and play five One-day internationals, a Test series and a couple of warm-up games.”
He conveyed the message to Terry Griffith, the president of West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), during a meeting after the first Test here at the Kensington Oval.
He said short tours are not so meaningful and he stressed his West Indian counterpart that the region should a make full to Pakistan.
Due to security situation, West Indies played an off-shore series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in early 2002.
The PCB chief also discussed the preparations for World Cup 2007 and the WICB president assured him that they are trying to make the mega-event a great success.
Regarding his discussion with ECB officials regarding England’s tour to Pakistan later this year, the PCB chairman indicated the Englishmen were reluctant to play one-dayer in Peshawar. However, the ECB had tentatively agreed to play a Test as well as a one-dayer in Karachi.
The chairman said an ECB security delegation will be visiting Pakistan in a few weeks to assess the security arrangements with the Pakistan authorities.—APP
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