Outspoken former Test cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz says Shahid Afridi would not have been a part of the Pakistan T20 team had the all-rounder not been leading the side at the 2016 World T20.
The 66-year-old former fast bowler said keeping Afridi in the side was stunting the emergence of young stars and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should assess their decision before the big event next year.
“PCB should not go on ifs and buts hoping that Afridi would perform some day,” Sarfraz said while talking to APP.
T20 captain Afridi has managed to score 64 runs and take only two wickets at the cost of 129 runs in 19 overs in his last five T20 outings.
Even though Pakistan clinched the recent two-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, Afridi’s individual performances were below par.
Sarfraz was of the opinion that a player like Afridi, who performed “once in a blue moon” was a liability for the team.
The flamboyant all-rounder recently moved to Lahore to utilize the facilities at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) fully before the 2016 World T20 and has already said that form is not a worry for him. He has also been named in the Habib Bank (HBL) squad for the upcoming Quaid-e-Azam trophy tournament.
PCB chief Shaharyar Khan also has backed the 35-year-old fully and has assured him full support until the end of the World T20.
Earlier, Pakistan’s head-coach Waqar Younis said he was not worried over Afridi’s form and said that the 35-year-old would soon hit his straps.
Chief selector Haroon Rasheed also backed Afridi to come good at the World T20.
“I am sure he will do well in the T20 World Cup,” he said.
Sarfraz, meanwhile, also weighed in on the Bilal Asif development, putting the blame squarely on PCB.
The Pakistan off-spinner Bilal Asif was reported for a suspect action following the third ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare.
Sarfraz questioned the quality of umpires in the domestic circuit.
“They should have seen and sorted his action before,” he said.
