Afridi says Misbah 'best choice' as Pakistan captain for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi has given his support to struggling Misbah-ul-Haq as the best man to lead Pakistan at next year's 50-over cricket World Cup.

"I have always backed him (Misbah) to the optimum whenever I have played under him, just as he had when I had the honour to captain the Pakistan team," Afridi said issuing a statement through the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday.

Regular skipper Misbah opted to sit out the third one-day international against Abu Dhabi on Sunday because of his loss of batting form.

However, Pakistan's stand-in captain, couldn't prevent Australia from winning by one run and sweeping the series 3-0.

Instead, Afridi irked PCB officials on Sunday by saying they should decide now who will lead the team in next year's tournament.

When asked would he like to continue the one-day captaincy until the World Cup, Afridi said: "I think whoever is captain - Misbah or me - we should know about it. If I am to captain in the World Cup then I should know about it."

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said it will be up to Misbah to decide whether or not he wants to lead Pakistan in the World Cup, but that the board has already started considering other options.

The PCB earlier this year appointed Misbah one-day captain until 2015 World Cup.

Khan stepped in to defuse the controversy and reiterated that Misbah would remain in charge through next year's showpiece event in Australia and New Zealand.

"As far as the PCB is concerned, we are supporting Misbah and he is our captain till the World Cup," Khan said.

"The remarks made by Afridi are regretful and unfortunate and perhaps gave the indication of something wrong in the team.

"We are looking into Afridi's statement to see whether he has violated his central contract terms and if this is so disciplinary action can be taken against him."

The PCB chief also pulled Afridi up on his form.

"Now people are saying Afridi should be the captain but although his bowling has improved his batting hasn't," said Khan.

"It's up to the selectors to judge and see does he (Afridi) deserve a place in the team," Khan said.

Afridi took 3-46 in Pakistan's 93-run defeat in the first one-dayer in Sharjah, his first wickets in seven one-day internationals.

Afridi has made only one half century in the last 28 innings.

The 34-year-old Afridi, who has played 384 ODIs, issued a statement later Tuesday, throwing his weight behind Misbah's captaincy.

"Let me state at the very outset, Misbah is the best choice as Pakistan captain for the ICC World Cup 2015," he said.

Afridi also underlined that captaining Pakistan was not an easy task.

"Trust me, it is no bed of roses, and all of us who have captained Pakistan, including Misbah, are fully aware of it. We get nothing more out of it than pride and honour; seldom do we get bouquets but more often brickbats," he added.

“I have said this before, and I reiterate, that I shall continue to serve Pakistan cricket and fully support Misbah to the best of my ability. This is my final statement on the issue,” Afridi concluded.

PCB said no notice will be issued after Afridi's clarification.

"Afridi knows what he should say and what he shouldn't, and in my opinion the things he said were irresponsible," PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said on Tuesday.

The PCB had already announced Misbah as captain until the World Cup, and Khan said Afridi's comments created only "doubts in the minds of people."

Khan also said the PCB has a contingency plan in case Misbah is ruled out of the World Cup. He declined to say if that included Afridi, who led Pakistan to the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup.

"We have already thought about it, I am not going to name him, but there are quite a few (in the running for captaincy)," Khan said.


 

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