Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi lashed out at the batting coach, Mohammad Yousuf, for his recent statement on Mohammad Rizwan's form after the hosts lost the Test series to England with a 26-run defeat in the second test on Monday (December 12) in Multan.
Rizwan has been struggling in Test cricket for a long time now, and even his batting struggles continued in the ongoing three-match Test series against England at home. Despite this, Pakistan neither rested the star wicketkeeper nor tried another option.
Well, when Yousuf was asked about Rizwan’s struggle, the batting coach stunned one and all with his response saying that it wasn't his domain to talk about that.
He said at the press conference in Multan, “Dekhiye, main jab se cricket board ke saath aaya hu - takreeban 2 saal ho gaye hain and koi 8-10 months mujhe team ke saath huye hain. Toh ek cheez bohot clear hai ki har banda apne domain mein reh ke kaam karega. Main kisi ke domain mein nahi jaunga aur koi mere mein nahi aayega. Toh mera nahi khayaal ki ye meri domain ka question hai. Bura mat maniyega but yeh mera domain nahi hai.
(When I came aboard the PCB - it has been almost 2 years and some 8-10 months with the team. One thing is clear that every person operates within his domain. I won't enter anyone else's domain and no one else will enter mine. So, I don't think this question belongs to my domain. Don't mind but this is not my domain).”
Meanwhile, Afridi now slammed Yousuf for his irresponsible statement by suggesting the Pakistan team management give rest to Rizwan while offering opportunities to the likes of Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shan Masood in the third and final Test against England.
Shahid Afridi said on Samaa TV: “Woh batting coach hi hain na waha pe? Toh zahir hai ki batsmen agar perform nahi karenge, zahir si baat hai ki Mohammad Yousuf se puucha jayega. As a batting coach, yeh toh usi ka domain banta hai. Rizwan ke baare mein, main pehle keh chuka hu ki kisi duusre ladke ko chance de diya jaaye. Main yeh nahi keh raha ki Rizwan ko drop kar diya jaaye lekin usko rest zaruur karaya ja sakta hai. Aap Test series haar gaye ho. Teesra match Karachi mein hai toh aap yaha chance de sakte hain. Why not Sarfaraz? Shan Masood... chances should be given.
(He is the batting coach, right? So obviously, if the players do not perform, he will be asked questions. As a batting coach, this is his domain. And about Rizwan, I have already said that the time has come to maybe give other players an opportunity. I am not saying drop Rizwan altogether, but he sure can be rested. You have lost the series and the third Test is in Karachi, so why not bring in someone like a Sarfaraz or Shan Masood).”
