Misbah is a better choice for captaincy: Shahid Afridi

E-Paper | April 24, 2026

Shahid Afridi, who worked up a storm after his comments on captaincy, has reiterated his support for Misbah-ul-Haq as the best choice to lead Pakistan at the 2015 World Cup.

Afridi's remarks have come at a time when Pakistan completed an emphatic Test series win over Australia in 20 years.

Before the Test series, there were rumours of a possible Pakistan Cricket Board change of heart and the axing of Misbah as ODI captain. Afridi was being propped up as the replacement.

However the legendary all-rounder, also known as 'Boom Boom Afridi', denied expressing any desire for Pakistan's captaincy though.

"I don't know why media creates controversies by misquoting me. They seem to blow everything I say out of proportion," Afridi said adding, "As far as captaincy is concerned, I never ran after it. I have always said I am available to serve the country in any way possible."

The 34-year-old veteran all-rounder praised Pakistan's outstanding display against Australia in Tests.

"I congratulate the whole team for their brilliant performance," he said, adding that the team combination was in good shape and needed to be given confidence.

Afridi said major responsibility now lied on the shoulders of senior players and stressed that they should motivate and back the juniors.

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Itsqashi

Nov 07, 2014 06:40pm

Thanks for telling us.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 07, 2014 06:43pm

At this crucial juncture in time and history, what else can he say?

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Asif A

Nov 07, 2014 07:14pm

Afridi should retire respectfully & let's groom youngsters., I request PCB stop waisting the career of youngsters & they must be given apportunity in an International team.

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Muba Khan

Nov 07, 2014 07:16pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad You seem to say the same thing over and over for these stories. Yet you ignore the replied that people give to your comments.

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Pak_Cric_Fan

Nov 07, 2014 07:46pm

After Misbah's fastest test century and team winning a series against Australia after 20 years he has not teeth to show now. If he criticizes Misbah's now he will look like a fool. He is a politician in training. When was the last time he performed or showed consistency in his form. At least Misbah has consistent performance record.

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Tahir Rashid

Nov 07, 2014 07:55pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Yaar come with new lines please!

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Aysha

Nov 07, 2014 08:08pm

Afridi said major responsibility now lied on the shoulders of senior players. Is he telling this to himself?

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M. Baluch

Nov 07, 2014 08:27pm

No matter what one may say, Afridi remains a match winner on his day. However, more than any one else in the team, he needs to work hard with the team's sports psychologist to help him relax (especially when batting), and then he would provide the additional X- factor to a strong squad!

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WeCare

Nov 07, 2014 08:30pm

He is still confined to this "Senior/Junior" context. In sports - performance is everything regardless of being senior or junior. Mr. Afridi's batting has let us down in matches that could have been won only if he stayed with singles or two's. But so many times he has gone for sixes - just to fail - and ruined the games that were easy to win. Though his bowling figures are worth consideration, but batting brain is very non-mature.

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haris

Nov 07, 2014 09:17pm

@Asif A 7 players in Pak-11 are youngsters. Afridi along with Misbah and Hafeez were the only old lads. Buss boltey rehna hai chahey tuk banay na banay.

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haris

Nov 07, 2014 09:20pm

Seriously, the media has blown out from his comments. He only said, "It's tough job to lead the Pakistani team no matter whoever will be a captain." At that time of press conference, PCB has not confirmed Misbah to be captain in upcoming WC.

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Abdul mujeeb khan

Nov 07, 2014 09:27pm

Misbah is not suitable candidate for captaincy, even if once again he makes fastest century. His runs do not contribute any match winning scenario,What I have witnessed in past many years. He is a good test player but he doesn't have leadership quality. When team under pressure he add more pressure two different ways 1- drop run rate 2- quickly depart from crease. This is very dangerous for green shirts. In last inning there wasn't any pressure on team, that's why he played brilliant inning. Main credit goes to younas Khan who guide the team towads victory direction. Those who like misbah as a captain are not cricket lover. St the moment younnas khan is a ideal choice for the captaincy!

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hamza

Nov 07, 2014 09:38pm

we pakistanis are good at making fun of our heroes....we even didn't spare Quaid e Azam what to talk of afridi who is just a sportsman.....we forget that he possesses maximum man of the match awards for pakistan...even more than wasim akram...we forget that how many times he has provided happiness to the whole nation....noone remembers his T20 world cup match performances...his wins againt India...his 2nd fastest century...a number of quick half centuries....his 380+ wickets

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Zane

Nov 07, 2014 09:40pm

Lets look at his stats, He has played 383 ODI matches and taken 384 wickets. His batting avg is 23 runs per ODI and Dawn calls him legendary all rounder LOL. Good going Dawn. Even Bangladesh's bowlers avg better then him let alone Aus Eng and SA.

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Shahid

Nov 07, 2014 09:52pm

legendary all-rounder. Really ?

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Shahid

Nov 07, 2014 09:54pm

@M. Baluch yes but those days are far and very few.

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Kanwarch

Nov 07, 2014 10:15pm

Afraid should retire gracefully. He has served the country well and should see the writing on the wall.

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Asif

Nov 07, 2014 10:50pm

He must quit cricket & play domestic ONLY. He should join Non For Profit Organization Full time & Help needy people of Pakistan.

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Sarah

Nov 07, 2014 10:52pm

Afridi based on your performance you should not be even in team forget about Captaincy.Don't you think you and Umar Akmal has been given sufficient time to improve and both of you had let country down.I see both of you as burden on team now.Team cannot operate with 2 batsman constant failure.

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anony

Nov 08, 2014 12:43am

Love you Boom boom.

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Shahid Ali

Nov 08, 2014 12:49am

@Aysha Afridi does not even derserve selection in the team

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Mirza

Nov 08, 2014 03:50am

"I don't know why media creates controversies by misquoting me. They seem to blow everything I say out of proportion," Yet like a failed politician he keeps mouthing off non stop! Why is this player allowed to issue media statements every other day? How is Afridi any better than other players who keep their mouth shut and let their game do the talking? This limited over player must be kept away from Pakistani team which has finally gelled into a winning combination. Without the politicians like Akmal, Malik, and Afridi the team is playing without disruption and should be kept that way.

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khan

Nov 08, 2014 05:24am

" I have always said I am available to serve the country in any way possible." Like quitting in the middle of a test series.

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Zia

Nov 08, 2014 05:52am

Team will be better off without this man or it will go back to it form if this guy stays

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Ahmed

Nov 08, 2014 06:44am

Afridi you don't deserve a spot in the team. Spent force, please allow the likes of Yasir Shah to take your place. Thank you. He is a very good bowler who can also definitely bat better than you (anybody can). You bring divide in the team running hungrily after the captaincy. Once you were gone Misbah and co performed superbly well in the tests. Please leave this team and let Misbah do the job. Your bowling isn't very effective and your batting is worse than anybody's could be. Do not think this teams needs you anymore.

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Ali

Nov 08, 2014 07:56am

Someone should remind Afridi that he isn't being considered for captaincy. He should stop making a fool of himself.

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Sami

Nov 08, 2014 08:03am

Now Adridi should officialy joined the PTI

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msuheer

Nov 08, 2014 10:55am

Imran khan don't need hypocrite like Afridi., He perform ones in year., the down of batting in pakistan team is following this idiot approach. All pakistani need short term happiness and no vision that why today pakistan has become fail state which could not provide basic like electricity and water.

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syed baqar ahsan

Nov 08, 2014 04:25pm

Afridi is no fit and has developed arrogance.He has spoiled the street cricket in Pakistan,see your self boys playing make effort to hit every ball.

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Faizan Shaikh

Nov 08, 2014 09:33pm

Why does this guy gets so much media attention i would never know. He is an immature brat who even after years of playing cricket can still not be classified as a main stream player. The bits and pieces cricketers have damaged Pakistan more than we could ever imagine. Razzaq and Azhar were much better than this brat. It was him under who's captaincy, Razzaq's role was limitized to nothing but a filler. Our test team has played much better cricket under misbah than our ODI Team. Only difference i would say is that Afridi is a part of one day team and with this excess baggage comes politics and ego that harms the dressing room's atmosphere. He has time and again said or did something that has created a controversy over Misbah's role or captaincy. His captaincy stint as T20 skipper has been nothing but ordinary. But he will still rule over the people who prefer senseless aggression over watchful consistency.......

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taz

Nov 08, 2014 09:40pm

@WeCare wat abt the otherz??? Afridi has his own style but how many time others have let us down? Now everyone has start critisising him but u should know that itz a team man game not a one man game.misbhah has let us down so many time now just to give answer to his critics he showed his other side......and thosands of time of time he has let us down.....afridi has the record of most man of the match awards for Pakistan

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taz

Nov 08, 2014 09:51pm

Now everyone is praising misbah can i ask u what was he doing in last worldcup against india??why he is showing this aggressive character now?? Just to silence his critics??because he dont want anyone else to be a captain n wat was he doing under afridi captaincy?? Now everybody is against afridi cuz he said it to take a rite decision at a rite time?? Wat waz wrong in saying announced capatain early? Is this rite management to give someone captaincy just a week before a maga event

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