Shahid Afridi- Terrible Record

[Nishant]

He's becoming an irresponsible slogger that occasionally comes off.

That's exactly how i'd put it! He needs to improve his performances. And, if its a real spinner that pakistan is after, just try Kaneria! I'm sure he can salvage about 5 or 6 runs in an innings!

 

[Nishant]

I think Pakistan need to drop him for the home series against the Windies to give him a kick up the ass and show that NO-ONE has a dIvine right to be picked. Shot selection, what shot selection? Look at Kemp - he's a big hitter too but when SA were in trouble he knuckled down and did the hard work. Afridi? His LBW might have been unlucky LBW but he'd have whacked one straight up in the air anyway.If you knew nothing about him you'd think "he's new to ODIs he'll learn"..but he's been playing TEN YEARS!! For a player of his experience his batting is RIDICULOUS.

He's a crowd's favourite! He won't be dropped!

 

[open365]

^Have u ever ended a sentance without an exclamation mark?

 

[NZTailender]

are you serious? there is no comparison mate

?


I've spoken to a few people who think Afridi is light years ahead of Razzaq. I must be mistaken.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He's a crowd's favourite! He won't be dropped!

Putting money on that?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

?


I've spoken to a few people who think Afridi is light years ahead of Razzaq. I must be mistaken.

With the ball they are fairly equal these days, but Razzaq is miles ahead as a batsman.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

With the ball they are fairly equal these days, but Razzaq is miles ahead as a batsman.

I think Afridi is a better bowler actually, marginally.
But as you say, Razzaq is a far superior batsman and therefore a far better allrounder.

 

[Jono]

Yeah I too think Afridi is better with the ball. Goes for less runs, and can often be a very useful strike bowler too.

That's exactly how i'd put it! He needs to improve his performances. And, if its a real spinner that pakistan is after, just try Kaneria! I'm sure he can salvage about 5 or 6 runs in an innings!

In ODIs, Afridi as a spin bowler > Kaneria.

Kaneria's been proven to be pretty poor in ODIs, and since he can't bat or field, he'd have to be pretty damn good with the ball to warrant a place. At the moment, he simply isn't. Goes for way too many runs.

 

[Langeveldt]

He is also averaging around 7 overs per game in the last 20, so he is doing a decent and consistant job with the ball.

However, thats is not what he is famous for or the area he is expected to excel in. The batting is even worse in the last 10 ODIs where he averages under 6.

Thats not his failt, its what people expect of him

 

[Nishant]

Yeah I too think Afridi is better with the ball. Goes for less runs, and can often be a very useful strike bowler too.

In ODIs, Afridi as a spin bowler > Kaneria.

Kaneria's been proven to be pretty poor in ODIs, and since he can't bat or field, he'd have to be pretty damn good with the ball to warrant a place. At the moment, he simply isn't. Goes for way too many runs.

Yeah! i guess ur right then! Perhaps that's why afridi hasn't been dropped yet!

 

[Arjun]

He's not needed to score big hundreds regularly– they've got Younis Khan, Yousuf, Inzamam and two openers (or maybe Faisal Iqbal or Salim Elahi) for that. He's in the team more as a leg-spinner in ODI's and a mere striker of the ball, and as a striker, he's just right for his team. In fact, that he's got a few centuries is a massive bonus.

Everyone is looking at him as an individual, more so as a batsman, so you don't get the complete picture. He may not bat with a brain to some, he may not have Tendulkar-esque figures, but he serves a purpose in the team, and quite well. The strike bowlers need support, and he turns in seven overs a match without giving away much and even takes more than a few wickets. With a flat pitch or a massive score behind him, he'll come in and strike the ball very hard a few times and while it may not last long, it may win matches for the team and that's what counts. In fact, he's one of the team's genuine match-winners, which makes him more important than a few blokes hopefully averaging over 40.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He's not needed to score big hundreds regularly– they've got Younis Khan, Yousuf, Inzamam and two openers (or maybe Faisal Iqbal or Salim Elahi) for that. He's in the team more as a leg-spinner in ODI's and a mere striker of the ball, and as a striker, he's just right for his team. In fact, that he's got a few centuries is a massive bonus.

I don't think big hundreds is the issue right now. I think scoring runs at all should be his first focus. Considering that he's not accomplishing anything by averaging <10 at a SR of >100.

 

[Anil]

he's always been extremely inconsistent, he does have some talent but he just hasn't shown the necessary determination, guts, sense of responsibility or willingness to adapt required to be a better than a glorified slogger.....he has been a hit-or-miss player through out his career and unless he revamps his style completely at this stage, he will continue to be for whatever is left of it...

 

[Goughy]

he's always been extremely inconsistent, he does have some talent but he just hasn't shown the necessary determination, guts, sense of responsibility or willingness to adapt required to be a better than a glorified slogger.....he has been a hit-or-miss player through out his career and unless he revamps his style completely at this stage, he will continue to be for whatever is left of it...

The problem recently has not been inconsistency but the fact that he has been consistency bad with the bat. As I mentioned before, over half his innings in his last 20 ODIS he has been dismissed for under 5.

If he is to play as a specialist spinner then that is more acceptable. However, given what he was capable of early in his career I would think the selectors would want more than that.

 

[SJS]

There are so many different hues to Mr Afridi. From the responses here one can easily see that you can either love him or hate him but you cant ignore him.

He has been different things to different people. A darling to millions of Pakistani fans, a terrorist with a difference for the Indian teams that have faced him, an arrogant wielder of the club who somehow managed to keep middleing them for most slow and medium paced bowlers around the world and the devil incarnate for the minnows and the ordinary bowler.

But things have changed. So I decided to have a poll where you (assuming there are all types of sufferers and devotees of the Pathan here) decide what to do with the guy. Visit the Afridi Poll.

Have fun.

PS : Although it cant be added, one would be interested if anyone has a different remedy of what to do with Mr Afridi than the seven proposed.

 

[Anil]

The problem recently has not been inconsistency but the fact that he has been consistency bad with the bat. As I mentioned before, over half his innings in his last 20 ODIS he has been dismissed for under 5.

If he is to play as a specialist spinner then that is more acceptable. However, given what he was capable of early in his career I would think the selectors would want more than that.

could it be that his all-or-nothing mode of play and his age(his actual age i mean ) finally catching up with him??...it used to give him 1 good match in 10-15 on average and that used to be enough for his fans and pcb, now, it might be that the eyesight and reflexes are not good enough to just blast attacks anymore....and the guy as of now hasn't developed any other gears, so...

 

[deeps]

He's just out of form... Too important to drop, he only really needs a few quick 30's to 50's to change a game.

Let's put it this way.. if he can bat for 5-10 overs, he'll have done a fair bit of damage.

The other factor he has, is that the opposition captain is well weary of him... not recently, but i've seen on many occasions, the strike bowler come back on the moment afridi walks out to bat... sure, he may get out, but he has mucked up the captains plans a bit, opening bowler has missed out on a few overs... and afridi may have come off and smashed this bowler around a bit.

He is still one of the most feared cricketers to bowl to, and most captains will cringe when they see him walk out to bat... sure , he's losing that aura because he is out of form.. but everyone goes through lean patches... 6 months ago he was in a purple patch.


and let's not forget... he first played for pakistan as a leg spinner... his batting was a bonus... in one dayers, he's still good enough to make it in the side as a BOWLING all rounder.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He's just out of form... Too important to drop, he only really needs a few quick 30's to 50's to change a game.

He only gets one innings per game...

 

[Goughy]

He's just out of form... Too important to drop, he only really needs a few quick 30's to 50's to change a game.

He is still one of the most feared cricketers to bowl to, and most captains will cringe when they see him walk out to bat... sure , he's losing that aura because he is out of form.. but everyone goes through lean patches... 6 months ago he was in a purple patch.

He has only has 2 scores over 30 in his last 25 games! Top score of 34.

As for him being in to form 6 months ago. Thats funny

Over the last 14 months he has averaged 10 with the bat. And if you take 6 months ago as a mid-point for this supposed 'purple patch' and take a period (stretching from 3 months before this mid point to 3 months after) he averages 8.75. Even worse!

http://statserver.cricket.org/guru?...edhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype

 

[deeps]

ok maybe not 6 months ago... I guess i lost track of time.

The australia series down under, and the series following that etc. were good for him