May 31, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429

KARACHI, May 30: Pakistan’s dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who represented Deccan Chargers in the IPL, has said that he was disappointed with his batting performance in the League, though the Twenty20 version of the game suited his style of batting.

“This version of cricket suits my aggressive style of batting. But I took pressure in the league. I wanted to give my best in this shorter version but unfortunately I failed,” he said on his return from India.

Afridi’s IPL team Deccan Chargers failed to qualify for the semi-finals. He lamented that his non-performance with the bat was one of the reasons for the Chargers languishing at the bottom of the table.

It is pertinent to mention that Afridi was a total failure as he could score only 81 runs in nine innings of ten matches he played for Deccan Chargers. “I am extremely disappointed, I failed to contribute for the team with the bat. My team finished at the bottom because of my ordinary form. It really hurts me,” he added.

The all-rounder, who has been playing international cricket since 1996, said for the last two years he had been concentrating on his bowling rather than batting. “I gave satisfactory performance in the bowling department in India.”

Afridi said it was disappointing that except Sohail Tanvir no other Pakistan cricketer was able to perform consistently in the mega event.

Afridi talked highly of his skipper VVS Laxman and stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist, especially of the latter. “Laxman led the team well in the first six matches. But it was a lesson to learn how Gilchrist treated the players after our two losses under him. “He (Gilchrist) must be feeling bad, but he does not show it. He tries to absorb it and speaks nicely to teammates. It was amazing,” he said. —Agencies