Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has given his thoughts on the potential return of two of the country’s most famous cricketers, Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, to the national side.
During a recent interview with a local news channel, Afridi said that both players could make a case for themselves if they produce exceptional performances in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Amir, who retired from international cricket in 2020 after accusing the team management of mental torture, has seen speculation that he could reverse his decision following the recent change in leadership at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Similarly, Imad Wasim has been participating in T20 leagues worldwide and has been the subject of rumors regarding a return to the national team.
Afridi stated that the PSL will be the perfect platform for both players to make their comeback, adding that it depends on their mindset and if they have any goals set for the tournament.
“I think that depends on your mindset if you have any goals set for the PSL. It depends if you want to stay average or compare yourself with the likes of Shaheen, Haris, and Naseem,” he said. “Mohammad Amir has been playing cricket for a while; the same goes for Imad. Both of them would like to perform, given the opportunity. I think it [PSL] is the platform which you can use to make a comeback.”
He also noted that the outcome of the PSL can tell a lot about the players and that they would like to perform given the opportunity. Regarding the poor performance of the Karachi Kings in the PSL, Afridi said that there could be multiple reasons for the team’s struggles and that blaming the captain alone wouldn’t necessarily be fair.
“I think a team’s performance can tell you a lot, and I think there can be multiple reasons. It could be captaincy; it could be team management and planning from coaches. And if you are not performing, it means that errors are being made,” he said.
He suggested that other factors, such as team management, coaching, and planning, could also play a role in a team’s success or lack thereof.—INP
