Afridi omission surprising
From Rehan Siddiqui
17 November 2007
KARACHI — Pakistan's charismatic all rounder, Shahid Afridi, was surprisingly left out of the 15-member squad to face India in three-Test series starting later this month.
"Shahid Afridi has not been picked in the Test squad due to dip in his form and the selectors have no alternative, but to leave him out of the squad. He should try to regain form by playing in the domestic season," Chief Selector, Salahuddin Ahmed told Khaleej Times yesterday.
But Khaleej Times understands that Afridi did ask Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not to consider him for Test series, citing neither he was mentally nor physically attuned for the rigours of the longer version of the game.
However, this correspondent had learnt that that the major cause of Afridi's omission has been the cold war that existed between him and skipper, Shoaib Malik, who it is reported had opposed Afridi's inclusion in the Test squad.
Despite persuasion by the PCB to remain with the squad, Afridi was adamant and the board reluctantly accepted the all rounder's request and holder of world record of hitting the fastest ODI hundred.