Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has heaped praise on Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid for the way the former India captain is still serving the nation and helping the country by grooming youngsters for international cricket while working at the junior level.
The 43-year-old lauded Dravid – who is the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) was previously the coach of the India A and Under-19 teams, following which he took the NCA job to nurture the young talent in India and groom them to represent the Indian Cricket Team at the highest level by providing best facilities.
Afridi's comments came after Mohammad Amir’s claims about poor treatment by the team management and coaches Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis created controversy, as he urged the former Pakistan cricketers to follow Dravid’s footsteps by taking the job at the junior level rather than just eyeing the coaching job of the senior side to help the youngsters excel on the big stage for Pakistan.
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Afridi said at the launch ceremony of the Kashmir Premier League’s official anthem in Lahore: “I don’t think former players should just eye a role as the coach of the national side. Star cricketers such as Mohammad Yousaf, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan can do wonders at the junior level similar to how Rahul Dravid has done in India.”
He also reacted to the recent controversy in Pakistan cricket, saying Amir’s dispute with the coaching staff is a continuation of an age-old tradition in Pakistan. The legendary all-rounder further said it is high time that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) takes things in control and directly converses with the players regarding their performance instead of the coaching staff.
Afridi also took a dig at Misbah for his defensive approach by saying one can’t survive and excel on the big stage with the ‘heart of a chicken’.
Afridi further noted: “This is not a good tradition. The board has a sort of parental relationship with its cricketers. Whether it is Mohammad Amir or any other player, the PCB should communicate its plans with them so that they mentally prepare themselves if they are dropped due to any issues.”
He signed off by saying, “It would be better if the chairman or chief selector talks to the players rather than the coaching staff. Mohammad Amir was made an issue for no reason.”
