kashi..
Senator (1k+ posts)
World-cup winning captain Imran Khan admits he has mixed feelings about current leader Shahid Afridi's ability to steer Pakistan out of the "crisis" that has engulfed the sport in his country.
Speaking at a promotional event for the 2011 World Cup set to be held in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Khan, who led his country to glory in the 1992 edition, admitted Afridi was the best option to restore pride for a Pakistan team known more for its off-field troubles these days.
Khan said: He said: "I am not sure whether Afridi is the right person. Having said that, I would like to add that if there's someone who can do it, it is Afridi. He is one player who can pull off something out of the ordinary. If he can hit a purple patch, it does give Pakistan a chance. But then Pakistan are one of the most unpredictable sides in world cricket."
The controversies were sparked by a disappointing tour of Australia, with the manner of their defeats prompting an investigation into allegations of match-fixing, and several players either fined or barred from further selection.
Things went from bad to worse during the tour of England in the second half of the year, as News of the World investigations saw former captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir suspended by the International Cricket Council for alleged involvement in illegal spot-fixing during the second Test.
Despite Amir's suspension, Khan believes the youngster is a potential world-beater with the ball in his hands, even likening his skill with that of former skipper Wasim Akram.
He said: "Amir, I can tell you, is more talented than what Wasim Akram was at his age. I have seen Wasim as an 18-year-old and can vouch that Amir is far better than Wasim at this age. But then some people get better and mature quickly, some take more time."
The spot-fixing saga also saw an accusation thrown at England's players by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt, who claimed they had received bribes for losing the third one-day international during the tour.
Butt was later forced to issue an apology after threats of legal action, but Khan insisted Pakistan cricket's problems had deeper roots.
"Pakistan cricket is in crisis and so is the country," he said. "You have the president who is the chief patron of the cricket board. The less I talk about him, the better it is."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/uk...rfFIeWOfobvKpR5Yw?docId=N0066291291934293378A
Speaking at a promotional event for the 2011 World Cup set to be held in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Khan, who led his country to glory in the 1992 edition, admitted Afridi was the best option to restore pride for a Pakistan team known more for its off-field troubles these days.
Khan said: He said: "I am not sure whether Afridi is the right person. Having said that, I would like to add that if there's someone who can do it, it is Afridi. He is one player who can pull off something out of the ordinary. If he can hit a purple patch, it does give Pakistan a chance. But then Pakistan are one of the most unpredictable sides in world cricket."
The controversies were sparked by a disappointing tour of Australia, with the manner of their defeats prompting an investigation into allegations of match-fixing, and several players either fined or barred from further selection.
Things went from bad to worse during the tour of England in the second half of the year, as News of the World investigations saw former captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir suspended by the International Cricket Council for alleged involvement in illegal spot-fixing during the second Test.
Despite Amir's suspension, Khan believes the youngster is a potential world-beater with the ball in his hands, even likening his skill with that of former skipper Wasim Akram.
He said: "Amir, I can tell you, is more talented than what Wasim Akram was at his age. I have seen Wasim as an 18-year-old and can vouch that Amir is far better than Wasim at this age. But then some people get better and mature quickly, some take more time."
The spot-fixing saga also saw an accusation thrown at England's players by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt, who claimed they had received bribes for losing the third one-day international during the tour.
Butt was later forced to issue an apology after threats of legal action, but Khan insisted Pakistan cricket's problems had deeper roots.
"Pakistan cricket is in crisis and so is the country," he said. "You have the president who is the chief patron of the cricket board. The less I talk about him, the better it is."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/uk...rfFIeWOfobvKpR5Yw?docId=N0066291291934293378A
