Shahid Afridi stunned Pakistan Cricket Board and its supporters with the decision to quit Test cricket after the second game of their series against Cricket Australia. The decision was announced by Afridi himself after losing the first test of the two match series played against Australia in a neutral venue at Lords.Pakistan Cricket has to act faster to find a suitable replacement for the upcoming England Test series which is slated to begin after the ongoing series against Australia.
Pakistan Cricket which had gained momentum after defeating Australia in the Twenty Twenty series was taken a step backwards with the retirement decision of Afridi.The key question was the timing of Shahid Afridi and there has been remarks that Pakistan Cricket Board should rename itself as Pakistan Confused board.
The former Pakistan international players has been quick to jump against Pakistan Board and Shahid Afridi, Javed Mianadad, former captain of Pakistan and Director General of Pakistan Cricket Board had said that he had been pained at the way Afridi has conducted himself on the retirement issue and he thought that it has been a violation of code of conduct as team management was not taken into confidence.
Sources in Pakistan Board was of the opinion that Afridi had the capabilities of leading Pakistan Cricket in Test Cricket for along time as he was a great motivator of team.The 30 year old Afridi had been forced to come back into test cricket following the PCB indefinite bans to former skipper Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.The ban had been lifted but Yousuf had retired from international cricket and Younus is not a member of this current Pakistan team.
Pakistan Cricket board is under pressure to recall Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan to bolster the test team . 35 year old Mohammed Yosuf had said on July 19 2010 that he is ready to come out of retirement provided he is invited with due respect.
Pakistan Cricket Board will find it difficult to have an easy decision on Mohammed Yosuf as Yousuf has not appealed against indefinite ban.It will not be easy ride for the board to get Pakistan Test Cricket on tracks after the Shahid Afridi issue.
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