Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has come down hard at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management for making playing for Pakistan so easy for the players these days.
He was critical of the selection policy of the Pakistan team as the players are too easily being selected in the team after impressing in one or two games. The former all-rounder believes that the players should be strictly selected after spending at least a couple of seasons in domestic cricket.
Afridi said at a function, “The main thing is that we in Pakistan have made it really easy to represent the country. One or two performances in domestic cricket make you eligible for the national side. What is this? You should make your cricketers play domestic cricket.”
The 44-year-old further explained, “It has become so easy to play for the national team whereas in the past playing for the Pakistan team was the ultimate for any professional cricketer.
Why have we made it so really easy for players to represent the country? I am sad to see that a player gives one or two good performances in domestic cricket or the PSL and he is in the national team. That is why our performances are not consistent with the amount of cricket we play in Pakistan.”
The former skipper feels the players needed at least exposure of two to three years before the national selectors could judge their talent, temperament, and ability to cope with pressure at the highest level.
He said, “The real difference playing international cricket is how strong a player is mentally to handle all the pressures that come in international matches, and that includes the criticism and glare of the media and fans. We must now judge the difference between just talent and mental strength of a player.”
Afridi further said it can only be possible if the players play domestic cricket for two or three years, while urging the selectors and coaches to not reject players after a few chances if they fail to perform.
He signed off by saying, “If you give a chance to a player and he doesn't perform, he should be sent back into domestic cricket. Don't make playing for Pakistan so easy. Players must know the value of international cricket. I am totally against players coming into the side on just one or two performances.”
(With PTI Inputs)
