05-20-2011, 11:58 AM
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed Shahid Afridi as one-day team captain for the forthcoming series against Ireland.
Butt appointed Misbah-ul-Haq to replace Shahid Afridi as one-day captain for a two-match series against Ireland this month. Butt said Afridi will play as an ordinary member of the team despite leading Pakistan to a 3-2 one-day series win over the West Indies earlier this month.
The switch is likely to be seen as punishment for Afridi's public criticism of coach Waqar Younis' alleged interference in team selection. "Misbah will lead Pakistan in the two matches against Ireland and Afridi will play as a member (of the team) only," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman told a media conference in Islamabad on Thursday.
Afridi had captained the team to the World Cup semi-finals where they lost to India and recently also guided them to a 3-2 win over the West Indies in the ODI series in the Caribbean. Afridi ruffled feathers in the PCB and team when he returned from the Caribbean early this month and told the media that he was not happy with people interfering in his work.
After the series against the West Indies, Afridi accused Waqar of meddling in team selection upon his return home on May 9. "Everyone should do his job and should be answerable for his duties," Afridi said. When asked about his differences with Waqar, Afridi replied: "They are not at a stage where we cannot resolve them."
Butt appointed Misbah-ul-Haq to replace Shahid Afridi as one-day captain for a two-match series against Ireland this month. Butt said Afridi will play as an ordinary member of the team despite leading Pakistan to a 3-2 one-day series win over the West Indies earlier this month.
The switch is likely to be seen as punishment for Afridi's public criticism of coach Waqar Younis' alleged interference in team selection. "Misbah will lead Pakistan in the two matches against Ireland and Afridi will play as a member (of the team) only," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman told a media conference in Islamabad on Thursday.
Afridi had captained the team to the World Cup semi-finals where they lost to India and recently also guided them to a 3-2 win over the West Indies in the ODI series in the Caribbean. Afridi ruffled feathers in the PCB and team when he returned from the Caribbean early this month and told the media that he was not happy with people interfering in his work.
After the series against the West Indies, Afridi accused Waqar of meddling in team selection upon his return home on May 9. "Everyone should do his job and should be answerable for his duties," Afridi said. When asked about his differences with Waqar, Afridi replied: "They are not at a stage where we cannot resolve them."