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Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has expressed his displeasure over Shahid Afridi’s ever-changing decisions over retirement from the national team.
Afridi announced his retirement from the Pakistan team citing differences with the team management, especially head coach Waqar Younis and said he would not play under the current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) authorities.
However, since the end of Waqar Younis’ tenure after the tour of Zimbabwe, Afrdi has expressed his desire to return to the team. This u-turn has irked Akram.
“Afridi is making things too complicated for the PCB,” Akram told ESPN. “Cricket is a team game and not an individual sport. You have to treat the interests of the team and the management above your individual preferences.”
This is not the first instance where Afridi has chosen to retire from some form of cricket. He was appointed the Test captain in 2010 before the series against Australia, but resigned after the first Test, which Pakistan lost. The reason for that decision was lack of form and his inability to play in the five-day format of cricket.
Akram stressed that Afridi needed to act like a professional and not only look after his personal interests.
“His retirement has become a joke now. You will have difference with your coaches, chairman and with your colleagues but it should not show in your outlook. At the end of the day you are representing your nation – Pakistan.”
