Waqar plays dawn Afridi's retirement decision

Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis, while playing down Shahid Afridi’s decision of retiring from international cricket, has said every cricketer has to retire one day.

“All retired players are missed. Similarly, Afridi will also be missed. It was the case even with me and many other renowned players like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram.

“But there are always other youngsters who can replace the retired players,” Waqar said while talking to reporters at the National Cricket Academy, where he joined the Fast Track Camp’s second phase, after missing the first one, which ended on July 18.

Afridi had announced his retirement over differences with the team management, including Waqar, manager Intikhab Alam and PCB chairman Ijaz Butt after leading the national side in the last one-day series against the West Indies.

He had also said he would not reverse his decision until the present PCB management was working.

However, Waqar, while ignoring Afridi’s retirement, had suggested to the PCB in his report of the West Indies tour to search for a young captain and groom him as ageing Misbah-ul-Haq could not remain fit for a long time.

To a question, Waqar dispelled the impression that he was working like a dictator as he could not maintain smooth relationship with various captains in the past.

He admitted that grooming a strong opening pair was still a problem and asked prominent openers to come forward to help him in this regard.
“We have been facing problems in the opening department since long and I request former opening players like Mohsin Khan, Mudassar Nazar, Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar to come forward to help us,” he said.

Waqar also urged former great Javed Miandad to help youngsters, particularly at the top of the order.

“I believe anyone who can help me should come forward because we have to take Pakistan cricket forward in the right direction,” he said.

Waqar endorsed the decision of chief selector Mohsin Khan by saying a good number of young players would be tested in the upcoming one-day series against low-rated Zimbabwe, which is going to be held in August this year.

He said the decision of holding the fast track camp was good and hoped players would overcome their flaws.

news covered by dawn sports