"PCB has mis-treated him and they should be removed so that Afridi returns, we know him." PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:Pakistani greats expressed dismay Tuesday at Shahid Afridi`s shock decision to quit international cricket, as officials said the "doors are opened" for the influential all-rounder`s return.
Former captain Rashid Latif urged the administration to answer the trouble of the home team losing top players after Afridi, who was bare of the one-day captaincy after a spat with authorities, retired late Monday.
"His determination to retire, after people like Younis Khan and Muhammad Yousuf left, should be treated as a severe effect and I take the Pakistan government to make a commission and work this," said Latif.
Ex-skipper Wasim Akram, under whom Afridi developed in the 1990s, called the development "sad" and said Pakistan had become a standing jest in cricket circles.
"It is sad and will hurt Pakistan cricket badly," Wasim told AFP. "Just last month Afridi was showered with praise after he took Pakistan to the World Cup 2011 semi-final, given cash awards and suddenly this happened.
"Wherever I go people ask me what`s happening in Pakistan cricket. They gag at us and I am left embarrassed," he added. "I mean even the best doctors do not make a discussion for Pakistan cricket."
Afridi, 31, stood down from international duty after a row with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over critical comments about coach Waqar Younis after this year`s World Cup, when the team reached the semi-finals.
"I am dejected and anguish and whatsoever I said nearly the carriage it was in the better sake of the team," he told AFP from London.
"I leave not act under this set-up of the PCB which has treated players roughly," he added.
Younis relinquished the captaincy after the 2009 Champions Trophy while Yousuf announced his retirement last year, a determination which he rescinded later. Both had tangled with the PCB.
The body`s chairman Ijaz Butt insisted Afridi, known as one of cricket`s most destructive limited-overs batsmen, would be welcomed back if he chose to turn his decision.
"To withdraw from cricket is Afridi`s decision," Butt told a local tv channel. "We possess not stopped Afridi from performing and the doors are opened for him."
Afridi, who retired from Tests last year, was already hugely popular for his muscular batting and leg-spin, and had won rave reviews for uniting Pakistan after last year`s spot-fixing scandal and winning them to the World Cup semis.
The big, bearded Afridi is known for striking the fastest ever one-day century, off just 37 balls against Kenya in 1996, in his first international innings aged only 16. He likewise holds the record for about one-day sixes (289).
"As Pakistan captain Afridi should not have made his differences with coach public and should have solved them without coming to the media, and the PCB has also not tackled this fairly," said Wasim.
But another former captain, Moin Khan, laid the blame squarely at the PCB`s door.
"This is a slip of PCB administration," said Khan. "Afridi never took any names while he criticised the policies and Board took notice of that, why no one in the government taking notice of PCB`s actions of last 3 years."
Fans on the street backed Afridi, who was known to empty stadiums when he was given out.
"Afridi has taken a right decision," said Ali Nayyer, a pupil at Karachi University. "PCB has mis-treated him and they should be removed so that Afridi returns, we know him."
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