After many experienced Sri Lankan players pulled out of the upcoming Pakistan tour, many Pakistanis blamed India that is the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) as well as IPL (Indian Premier League). Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi is one of those.
Afridi also claimed that Sri Lankan players are willing to tour Pakistan but are being threatened by Indian Premier League (IPL) officials that their contracts will be terminated if they play in the country.
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A Pakistani author Saj Sadiq quoted Afridi on twitter saying, “Sri Lankan players are under pressure from IPL franchises. I spoke to SL players last time when there was talk of them coming to Pakistan & playing in PSL. They said they wanted to come, but IPL guys say if you go to Pakistan we won't give you a contract.”
Here is the Tweet from Saj Sadiq:
Shahid Afridi "Sri Lankan players are under pressure from IPL franchises. I spoke to SL players last time when there was talk of them coming to Pakistan & playing in PSL. They said they wanted to come, but IPL guys say if you go to Pakistan we won't give you a contract" #PAKvSL
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) September 19, 2019
The all-rounder then went on to urge current skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to step down as Test captain.
While talking about Sarfaraz, Afridi said, “I had told him (Sarfaraz) to step down from the role with respect when he was leaving for the Test series in South Africa whether the side wins or loses.”
“It should have happened earlier as leading the side as captain in all three formats is tough. Now that he will be relaxed..he looks more fit in the pictures I have seen. He has given himself more time and has trained a lot. I think he is a good choice for the ODIs and T20Is,” he added on Thursday.
The 44-year-old believes Misbah-ul-Haq’s appointment as the team’s head coach and chief selector is a tough assignment for the former right-hand batsman.
The right-arm leg spinner then went on to request the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to assign coaching roles for the U19 teams to veteran cricketers Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.
(With Samaa Sports inputs)
