Miandad's at it again

Shahid Afridi has had no shortage of people urging him to come back from his “retirement”. Because of the sort of player Afridi is his fan following has traditionally been very large so such a response was always on the cards. Shehrayar Khan, PCB’s top man, has like most other people in Pakistan, been amongst those countless others who have tried to persuade Afridi to change his mind, but the other day he did not let this general good natured "please don't go" mood of the reaction to Afridi's retirement stop him from letting Afridi know in a clear cut way that he ought to be prepared for repercussions if he decided to stick to his plan.

"He is a very good player and we want him for both forms of the game" Shehrayar started off diplomatically, "but we can't have players picking and choosing when and what they want to play, if he wants to skip Test matches then we have to see what sort of contract he should be given" he concluded logically. Afridi currently has a Category A central contract that entitles him to a monthly allowance of Rs 200,000 (£ 1800 approximately). This puts him along side the highest paid cricketers in Pakistan. Contracts are reviewed coming July.

I see nothing wrong in this; I don't see how this indicates an application of "pressure" on Afridi as Jawed Miandad insists in his customary horses for courses reaction to the remarks but then again, I’m not in the Legendary Ex-Player Turned Hopeless Commentator Society so I doubt I will. You'd expect that with the hiring of Jonty Rhodes as a temporary fielding coach the "former player vs. Bobby Woolmer" tirade will regain momentum and you'd hear quite a lot from Miandad and co. (have I mentioned Imran Khan's latest declaration of love for Sami as yet?) but this is all getting incredibly silly now, too silly if I may say so.

Now please don't get me wrong, I have the out most amount of respect for Miandad, he was tough competitor in his playing days and one of our best players ever, but I really find it difficult to not be seriously irritated at his so-called expert analysis, especially the bits he's been doing since being sacked as coach in favor of Bobby Woolmer. Ever since Woolmer has been hired Javed's done nothing but criticise the PCB for one thing or another, one day he's on GEO ranting about the batting order, next day he's telling The News how useless Bobby Woolmer is.

I understand his job might require him to sensationalize things and make the programs or newspapers he's working for appear more eye catching but that hardly gives him the right to criticise left, right and centre just for the sheer sake of it. Miandad says the PCB should "find out the genuine reasons" behind Afridi's decision. Genuine reasons? What exactly does he mean? Afridi must have said a thousand times why he has retired, different people chose to come to different conclusions regarding the "reasons" he gave but that hardly means the PCB should launch an official inquiry into investigating the matter as Miandad appears to be implying.

Then he also says that by mentioning his contract the PCB has "basically given the impression that it is trying to put the allrounder under pressure to change his mind". Again, what's his point? I don't think some one working in a multinational company or indeed in any professional field especially not when he is earning as much as Afridi is will be entitled to the liberty of a paid leave and that too for a full year if he or she decides to take a year's leave for whatever reason?

Then why exactly should Afridi be entitled for different special treatment? And why would telling him in no uncertain terms that he's indeed not going to get any special treatment with respect to his earnings if he picks and chooses the games he wants to play appear as putting him under pressure? Miandad adds that he's played for over 20 years for Pakistan but there weren't central contracts in your time, where they Jawed?

Contrary to what Miandad's indicated everyone at the board and the team level have been as practical and rational about this as possible. People have gone up to him, talked to him and asked him to re-think. But there's only that much people can do. If Afridi is adamant then he might as well remain so, you've got to move on. I'm not sure what Pakistan Cricket will achieve by making it seem as if we're totally desperate for him to come back. Sure enough he's a potentially world class test all rounder and losing any player like him for any time frame is a loss, but it's hardly as if it will be all doom and gloom without him.

In the lead up to every series why is that one player must always be the subject of endless discussion? Usually this is Shoaib Akhtar but this time it’s Afridi. Pakistan will take 15 or 16 other very talented players to England and the focus should now be on them, not on Afridi. Perhaps if people for once were less fixated by individuals and more focused on the team as a whole we'd give our selves a much better chance in England and beyond.

So unless this was an indirect way of advocating Shehrayar Khan to TCS Afridi a Cake Alaska with a super huge red rose bouquet accompanied by a "Miss You Loads" greeting card via Sentiments Express, I'm not sure what Miandad's point was.