Zahid, Afridi break county contracts (13 Apr 1997)

13 April

Zahid, Afridi break county contracts

Dawn Sports Reporter

KARACHI, April 13: Mohammad Zahid and Shahid Afridi have declined county offers on the advice of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Zahid and Afridi were to formally sign the contracts with Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire respectively in the city on Saturday. The officials of the two counties, along with the agent of the two players, had flown from England on Thursday. But the two budding youngsters approached Majid Khan, Chief Executive, PCB, in Sharjah and sought his permission which was refused. Majid had laid the term that if the two counties spared the players for India (in May) and Sri Lanka (in August), he had no objection. Nevertheless, the county officials rejected this condition. They are likely to fly back to England on Monday.

Zahid was offered a 60,000 pound sterling contract while Afridi was offered 75,000 pound sterling for a season. So far, the PCB has not announced any compensation to the two players nor has it promised them places in the Pakistan team till the Sahara Cup in Canada.

It is interesting to note that Majid Khan, in official statements, has emphasised that he had nothing to do with the players' contracts with the counties. In this connection, Majid had also refused to talk to counties for the release of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmad to fulfil PCB's off-season commitments.

Waqar Ahmad, when contacted on Sunday evening, said Mohammad Zahid and Shahid Afridi had signed their availability with them first. "I gave them a certain form which they filled promising to be available in the coming season. The form was signed some three weeks back."

Waqar stated that deliberations with Wasim Akram's county, Lancashire, were still on. "We have exchanged two letters with them. Wasim Akram will also be talking to Bob Bennett when he reaches there because the player himself is very interested in leading the team to India." Waqar said so far Waqar Younis has confirmed that he was not available at any cost till September.

Both Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Zahid who could have gained invaluable experience in county cricket.

Source:: Dawn (https://xiber.com/dawn/)