shahid afridi, mohammad hafeez, ms dhoni, virender sehwag, world twenty20, icc world, t20 world cup, icc world cup, icc, world cup, world twenty20, wt20, sri lanka world t20, wt20, #wt20, #cricket, cricket, #iccworld, #icc, super eights, twenty20 super eights, world t20 super eights, icc super eights, live cricket, cricket live, world twenty20 live, world t20 live, cricket score, live cricket score
If Afridi is going to persist with his hit-and-miss approach, could he be used as an option early on? -Photo by AP

What is Shahid Afridi worth?

His bowling in the ongoing World T20 has been decent, the batting not so much.

For Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez, Afridi’s presence alone on the field adds value to the team and perhaps some tactical dilemmas for the opposition.

But when Pakistan take on India in their much-hyped clash on Sunday, Afridi will need to do a little more perhaps. An electric performance in the field, a couple of useful breakthroughs and maybe even a few runs with the bat, so as to ensure his ‘presence’ is actually felt by the opponents.

His bowling is obviously not the concern, an economy rate of 6.33 an over in the tournament is not too bad. It is his ‘indifferent’ approach to his role as a batsman, even in tight situations, such as the one against South Africa, which is most disconcerting.

Hafeez defended Afridi’s inconsistent form in the run up to the event and has stood by his star player in almost all press conferences in Sri Lanka so far. On the eve of the big match he once again sprung to the defence of the ‘all-rounder’.

“You don’t finish a career on the basis of one bad match. Afridi has always done well for Pakistan. His good or bad performances don’t matter to the team as much as his presence in the field does, that is the big thing.”

One possibility for Pakistan and Afridi himself would be a promotion up the order. The man relishes the challenge against India and maybe he needs the kind of belief that Younis Khan instilled in him in 2009.

Can Hafeez afford to do the same? If Afridi is going to persist with his hit-and-miss approach, could he be used as an option early on? Could it be the kind role he is looking for and should Pakistan shuffle around a combination that has worked well so far?

Pakistan are expected to go in with the same line up, should there be a change?

1 Mohammad Hafeez (capt.), 2 Imran Nazir, 3 Nasir Jamshed, 4 Kamran Akmal (wk), 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Yasir Arafat, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Raza Hasan.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.