Afridi bids to get cricket back to Pakistan

KARACHI: Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi Saturday said he was trying to bring international cricket back to Pakistan and a number of foreign stars have shown an interest.

Pakistan has been a virtual no-go for international sides since the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and leaving seven visiting players and their assistant coach wounded.

“All of us have to make efforts to bring international cricket back to Pakistan,” Afridi, who said he has talked to a number of foreign players about an exhibition competition, told AFP.

“I have spoken to a number of top players from different countries and have got good feedback on travelling to Pakistan for a double-wicket competition,” said Afridi, 31.

Afridi said New Zealand?s Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram, West Indian Chris Gayle and some Australian players including paceman Shaun Tait were among those with whom he had discussed the proposal.

“Most of them have expressed great interest in the event and in playing in Pakistan so I am seriously planning to organise the event, which can allay players’ fears on Pakistan,” he said.

Afridi added he will also try to convince some Indian players.

Pakistan have been forced to play their home series at neutral venues in United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and England. They are currently playing the second of three Tests against England in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf has vowed to bring international cricket back to his country and is hoping to have a one-day series with Bangladesh in April. AGENCIES

Tendulkar’s legs shivered facing Shoaib Akhtar: Afridi

 Afridi said Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was scared of his pace, saying that he was a witness of “Tendulkar s legs shivering” in front of the Rawalpindi Express.

In his book, Controversially Yours, Akhtar wrote that Tendulkar was scared of his bowling, a comment that has caused furore across the border, forcing publishers to cancel all launch-related and publicity events.

When asked about Akhtar’s claims in his book, Afridi showed no hesitation in backing the former speedster.

“Shoaib is telling the truth. Tendulkar was afraid of him, and while fielding, I saw Tendulkar’s legs shivering while facing his bowling,” Afridi said.

However, the all-rounder added that it was not an unusual feature of a batsman.

“There are times when every batsman feels the pressure, it happens against Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal even,” said Afridi.

The former captain, however, was critical of Akhtar’s comments blaming Afridi for his omission from the 2011 ICC World Cup semi-final squad against India.

“Shoaib should remember that I apologised to the chairman and manager on his behalf and got him back into the national squad. While he hasn’t lied about other things, he won’t be able to look at me in the eyes after he’s said all that,” Afridi said.

Afridi is out of his mind, says Ganguly

 ”Afridi is out of his mind,” Ganguly quipped, reacting to the former Pakistani skipper s claim that he has seen Tendulkar “tremble” while facing Shoaib.

Afridi also said that Ganguly’s career was cut short due to Shoaib Akhtar’s furious bowling.

Ganguly is not surprised at off-spinner Harbhajan Singh s omission from the upcoming first two ODIs against England.

He is confident that the off-spinner s return for India s year-end tour of Australia for a four-Test series.

Shahid Afridi In Top ICC Rankings

Pakistan’s captain Shahid Afridi is in top ICC ranking. He is at number three position in the top five all-rounders. Shahid Afridi also jumped five places up and reached number nine spot in top ten best bowlers.

The performance of Shahid Afridi in the world cup had lifted the team. He took his team to top ranking. It was his effort that brings the team to the semi final. Pakistan lost the match against India in the semi final. Shahid Afridi was wicket less in that match. He led the team like a true captain.

Shahid Afridi decided to skip the West Indies tour after the world cup but he later on decided to travel with team and make himself available for selection. He is now selected in the team and will travel to West Indies.

Shahid Afridi Wants Result Oriented West Indies Tour

Shahid Afridi said that the tour of West Indies will be result oriented. He added that youngster included in the team will help them a lot and they will definitely try to overcome the West Indies team. He is hoping for favorable results for Pakistan team.

Shahid Afridi added cricket lovers are expecting from team and they will try to give series win to nation.

Balochistan govt. announces Wednesday as a half work day

QUETTA: Balochistan’s Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has announced Wednesday as a half work day in lieu of the Pakistan vs. India World Cup semifinal.

Afridi Hinted Shoaib Inclusion In Semi Final

Pakistan team captain Shahid Afridi said that the inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar in the semi final match against India will benefit the team. He said that Shoaib is Pakistan’s fast bowler and he will retire from the international cricket.

“Idiotic” Afridi Not Best For Captaincy: Ian Chappell

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell said that the current Pakistani captain is not right for captaincy. He added ‘idiotic’ Afridi is not right choice for the captaincy. He criticized the shot player by Shahid Afridi against the spinner in a very important match. He left his side with 139/5 chasing 177 runs.

We Come Harder After Every Game, Afridi

Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi was much exited after the match win against Sri Lanka. He gave match winning performance to Pakistan. Afridi is also named as the man of the match. This is the first big match between both teams in the world cup 2011.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs in the in group ‘A’ match of the World Cup, playing on R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Following the target of 278 host side can just score 266 runs. Shining once again Afridi took 4 wickets. Misbah-ul-Haq scored unbeatable 83 runs.

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. Both openers Ahmed Shehzad and Muhammad Hafeez were looking confident but on the total of 28, Shehzad went back to pavilion after scoring 13 runs, Sangakkara took his catch behind the wicket on the ball of Perera. New batsman Kamran Akmal played sensiable cricket along with Hafeez and added 48 runs in the second wicket partnership. In 14^th over Hafeez turned back on 31. On the total of 105, three wicket of Pakistan fell when Kamran Akmal wanted to hit a six to Herath coming out from the crease but he couldn’t play the ball and Sangakkara made not mistake in stumping.

Middle-order Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq countiuned to move the score responsibly and pick their side’s total to 213, on this spot Younis gave the catch to Jayawardene, Herath was the bowler, he scored 72 runs on 76 balls. Umar Akmal goes after adding his 10 runs to his team’s total. Boom Boom Afridi scored 16 runs on 12 balls with the help of 3 boundaries. At the end of limited number of overs the final score of green shirts was 277/7. Misbah-ul-Haq was unbeatable on 83. Rangana Herath picks 2 wickets.

Following the target, the host side took a slow but confident start. The first wicket of Eye-Landers fell on 76 when Upul Tharanga went back to pavilion after scoring 33 runs. After the gap of 12 runs Tillakaratne Dilshan bowled out by Afridi, he scored 41 runs. The danger man Mahila Jayawardene was taken by Shoaib Akhtar on just 1 run. Thailan Samaravera scored a single run. After losing 4 wickets on 96 runs Captain Kumar Sangakkara played a sensiable innings along with Chamara Silva and added 74 runs in the fifth wicket partnership. The innings of captain ended when he was one less then his fifty.

On the other end Chamara Silva continued to struggle, but his resistance finished on 57 runs. Angelo Mathews bowled out by Afridi after scoring 8.  At the end of specified number of overs the final score of Sri Lankan team was 266/9.

Shahid Afridi, who picks 5 wickets in the first match, once again giving his best performance got 4 wickets. Shoaib Akhtar was the second prominent bowler with 2 wickets.

Pak vs SL: BHOOM BHOOM AFRIDI – Takes His 300th Wicket In ODI

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: While “BHOOM BHOOM AFRIDI” is renowned for his aggressive batting, he is also a handy leg-spinner capable of producing a good mix of wicket taking balls. This is a good news for the fans of Afridi that he claimed his 300th wicket in one-day internationals during his team’s World Cup Group A match against Sri Lanka on Saturday. . While his stock ball is the leg break, his armoury also includes the conventional off break and a ‘quicker one’ which he can deliver at nearly 80 mph in the style of a medium-pacer.

He got 5 wickets in the first match of ICC Cricket world cup against Kenya. 11th match of ICC Cricket Cricket world Cup 2011 is continue in R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. And now “BHOOM BHOOM AFRIDI” is also on fire in bowling against Sri Lanka.

Afridi picked up the wicket of Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara to achieve the feat in his 314th ODI. He became the 11th bowler in the world to have 300 or more wickets. He occasionally sends down a bouncer to a batsman, which is very rare for a spin bowler.

Sri Lanka offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan holds the world record with 522 wickets. Pakistan’s Wasim Akram (502) and Waqar Younis (416) are at second and third place respectively.

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