Afridi 'non-serious' in Asia Cup, World T20, according to Waqar

In a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board filed by Waqar Younis, which was leaked to the media, Shahid Afridi has been non-serious in Asia Cup and World Twenty20 and has skipped meetings and training sessions regularly.

Waqar Younis (left) and Shahid Afridi had differences with each other in the 2011 World Cup as well.

Pakistan captain >Shahid Afridi has been accused of being non-serious throughout the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 in the report filed by under-fire coach Waqar Younis, who has expressed hurt about it being leaked to the media. Senior batsman >Mohammad Hafeez was accused of hiding his knee injury from the team management, in the report.

According to excerpts of the report leaked in the media on Wednesday, Waqar said that Afridi appeared non-serious and not concerned about the team’s performance in the two events. He claimed that Afridi had regularly missed practice sessions and meetings.

The rift between the head coach and captain is not new as the two had also clashed during Waqar’s first tenure in 2011 as a result of which the cricket board Afridi as ODI and T20 captain.

According to Waqar, Hafeez didn’t inform the team management about the injury which ruled him out of the last two crucial matches against New Zealand and Australia.

'Disappointed'

The legendary pacer expressed his “disappointment” at the report being leaked to the media. “I am totally disappointed and upset with the way the report has been leaked and I think the Pakistan Cricket Board needs to find out who leaked it and for what purpose,” Waqar told PTI from Lahore.

“I can only say what I have written in the report is what I sincerely feel. It is now up to the board to decide what to do. Because I have said before cosmetic measures will not bring about any good in Pakistan cricket,” Waqar added.

Waqar talked about the indiscipline and arrogant attitude of players such as >Umar Akmal and >Ahmed Shehzad . He claimed that he had requested the national selection committee to include Salman Butt in the squad for the Asia Cup and World T20, but chief selector Haroon Rasheed, without consulting him, included Khurrum Manzoor in the side.

Waqar also accused his former teammate Moin Khan of promoting the culture of favoritism in the dressing room when he was the chief selector, saying that he even gave gifts to some players and them out regularly during the 2015 World Cup, which affected the team spirit.

Waqar had publicly begged forgiveness yesterday for the team’s dismal performance, and Afridi took to the social media today to apologise to the nation.