Afridi threatens to quit Karachi team over captaincy

Dolphins are one of the two sides representing the metropolis in the tournament and Afridi has warned the local officials that he may opt to play for another region if they continue to treat him “badly.” —File Photo
KARACHI: Shahid Afridi has threatened to quit his regional side Karachi, after having been overlooked to captain the team in the domestic Twenty20 tournament.

“I think the KCCA officials need to rethink their attitude towards senior players,” Afridi told the media at National Stadium Karachi.

Fast bowler Mohammad Sami has been captaining the Karachi side this season in Afridi’s absence. While the all-rounder was unavailable during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Pentangular Cup, he will be representing Karachi Dolphins for the entire duration of the ongoing RBS Twenty20 Cup.

“I have no problems with the captaincy I am playing under Sami but senior players like me deserve better treatment from the association.”

Afridi said he should have been informed by the officials about their decision to replace him before the tournament began.

“I think the KCCA officials should have had the courtesy to at least tell me why they didn’t want me as captain. I am always prepared to play even as an ordinary player but there is a way you treat senior players and the KCCA is not doing that,” the all-rounder said.

Dolphins are one of the two sides representing the metropolis in the tournament and Afridi has warned the local officials that he may opt to play for another region if they continue to treat him “badly.”

“I have always taken a lot of pride in representing Karachi in domestic cricket but if the KCCA continue to treat senior players badly then I might be forced to play for some other region in coming events.”

KCCA secretary Siraj-ul-Islam Bukhari, who has held the post for more than three decades now, was quick to explain that Afridi had misunderstood the situation.

“The fact is that last season when we wanted him to lead the side he was not available and this year we also had to take into consideration the fact that Mohammad Sami had led Karachi to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title and deserved to continue as captain,” he said.

According to Afridi, however, he had been told last year by national coach Intikhab Alam that he could play in only two matches during the competition.MOREDETAILS.....