Afridi 'absolutely clueless in terms of on-field tactics, off-field leadership': Intikhab Alam
Team manager Intikhab Alam heavily criticised Shahid Afridi in his report submitted to the PCB.
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Following an equally scathing report by coach Waqar Younis, Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam has also blamed Shahid Afridi’s "clueless captaincy" for the country’s group-stage exit from the World Twenty20 and Asia Cup campaigns.
In the World T20 2016, Pakistan beat Bangladesh, but suffered defeats by India, New Zealand and Australia.
After winning against Bangladesh by 55 runs, Pakistan’s batsmen, bowlers and fielders struggled in the remaining three matches before making an early exit from the tournament.
For Pakistan, Sharjeel Khan top-scored with 112 runs from four matches, followed by his opening partner Ahmed Shehzad’s 108 from as many matches.
Both openers were not originally named in the squad. Left-handed Khan was included after he scored a century in Pakistan’s first professional domestic T20 league in the UAE. Shehzad made his way when Khurram Manzoor was dropped after Pakistan failed to qualify for the final of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.
Captain Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Sami took four wickets each in the tournament while left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir ended up with only three wickets in four matches.
In a critical five-page report obtained by the ESPNCricinfo, Intikhab Alam criticised Afridi’s on-field tactics and off-field leadership, the lack of skills in all departments of the squad and how they became involved in "needless controversies" during the World T20.
The manage, however, said that the coaching and support staff performed their duties "most diligently".
"The recent Asia Cup and the ICC World T20 have made it evident that we have critical gaps both in batting and bowling, and our fielding keeps on leaking runs, thus releasing pressure. In bowling, with the exception of Mohammad Amir, we do not have a bowler who can win us matches. Our death bowling also is way below par. And the same goes with our batting line-up, where we do not have reliable pinch hitters and the top and power hitter to clinch us games," Alam wrote.
He added: "To cap it all, the tournament was being held in India, where the team was under multiple scanners at the same time, pushing the stress and anxiety levels very high," Intikhab said. "Much to our chagrin [added to the above reasons], was a captain in his farewell event after a career spanning nearly 20 years, yet absolutely clueless in terms of on-field tactics and off-field leadership."
Intikhab continued: "We were also set back by two absolutely needless controversies, the first emanating from Afridi’s ‘more-loved-in-India-than-in-Pakistan’ statement in his mandatory on-arrival press conference and Umar Akmal again stealing the limelight in an unseemly manner by seeking Imran Khan’s intervention to fix his batting position at three, when he had done little to inspire confidence at number 4."
The report focused deeply on the match against India where he said "many factors were at play" including Pakistan’s poor record against their "arch-rivals" at ICC events and he highlighted the rain in the lead-up to the match which had a considerable impact on conditions before referring to the invite handed to Imran Khan to address the team.
"On the day, the events also conspired against us. For one, the weather didn’t help. On the same square where the Pakistan batsmen gave a command performance against Sri Lanka [the warm-up match] and Bangladesh, the weather suddenly turned from sultry and sunny to wet and unpredictable. Intermittent rain during the night prior to the game, followed by further downpours and overcast skies, meant that the pitch and outfield remained covered for more than 24 hours, changing its character from slow in pace to a spitefully turning and gripping one.
"To prop up the team’s morale, Shahid Afridi invited Imran Khan (then in India for his own media and other engagements) for a pep talk prior to the game. Imran for his part tried to lift the morale, advising the boys to stay positive till the last ball was bowled, and never allow the possibility of defeat enter their consciousness. It was a pretty decent one as far as pep talks go, but it was evident that Imran - not unlike many outstanding exponents of the game from his time who have not stayed abreast with it - was not too familiar with the demands and tactics employed in this condensed, post-modern format of the game.
The team manager stressed: "In my opinion, to alleviate our situation in shorter formats of the game, we have to make a comprehensive plan at the Board level. And this includes improving our selection methods. Pick-up, drop, pick-up routine has not helped us at all, neither has bowing down to player power nor hanging on to the so-called ‘talented mavericks’ who refuse to learn, evolve and deliver."
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Earlier, in a report submitted to the PCB, coach Waqar Younis made critical comments relating to Afridi’s captaincy and the troublesome attitude of batsman Umar Akmal.
Waqar made it clear that Shahid Afridi was not performing with the bat, ball or as a captain but was not listened to.
His authority as coach was undermined by having selector Moin Khan appointed to travel with the team to to the 2015 World Cup.
Akmal should not be considered an automatic selection; and Pakistan would be better served developing players who are proud to represent their country, he added.
He further said that Haroon Rasheed’s stint as chief selector has resulted in too many "stop-gap" decisions as squads are changed significantly between each tour.
The players arrived at the Asia Cup T20 tournament in February "tired and unfit" because they did not train during the Pakistan Super League season: "It was more a holiday for them," Waqar wrote.
Captain Afridi was "unfair" in the way he used Mohammad Nawaz as a bowler in an Asia Cup T20 game against Sri Lanka in March, which "destroyed the youngster’s confidence" as he was hit for 38 runs off three overs.
Waqar added: "We lost to New Zealand, Asia Cup and the World Twenty20, due to poor captaincy.”
"No matter how many times I talk to the players, it is the captain who has to lead the boys on the field and execute the plan."
It may be mentioned here that Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi, 36, is expected to announce soon whether he will be retiring from internationals.
