Afridi urges veterans to lift their game

by Cricket Betting News | April 27, 2015

All-rounder Shahid Afridi has urged Pakistan’s senior players to step up as they continue to struggle in all forms of the game. The Asians are currently going through a transitional phase with a number of younger players being introduced to the squad.
They failed to make much of an impact at the World Cup and have just been on the wrong end of a 3-0 one-day thrashing by Bangladesh.
Afridi no longer plays 50-over international cricket while he retired from Tests five years ago, but he played in the recent one-off T20 against the Tigers.
That too ended in defeat for Pakistan, who will now face a confident Bangladesh side in two Tests.
Afridi will be an interested spectator and feels it is vital that the older players start to contribute.
“The fact is that the senior players are letting down the team,” he said. “We can’t expect to win much with our current poor form.”
The 35-year-old is keen to continue playing 20-over cricket for Pakistan until next year’s T20 World Cup but has made it clear he will step down if his form is not good enough.
“I want to lead from the front, and if I feel that I’m going to be a burden, then I will quit the format well before next year’s ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in India,” he added.
“Pakistan cricket is going through a tough phase. If the seniors don’t contribute then the problems would only increase. We need to experiment with youngsters and form a potent combination before the World Twenty20, but for that we need the support of the established players.”