KARACHI: Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi said on Friday that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the selection committee should aim for quality cricketers.
“Instead of going after quantity, we should concentrate on quality to meet international standards,” he said
Former Pakistan team captain said that the country was not producing fine cricketers as it did in the past, shifting the focus from quality to quantity.
“Pakistan has good quality cricketers in every city, every street. The ‘real’ players should be given a chance in the national team,” Afridi said adding that PCB needs to make some wise decision in selecting players for international tours.
He further said that he hopes for his comeback in the national team.
“I hope the board considers adding senior players to the squad for international tours like England,” Afridi said, “I am making efforts to play again for my country.”
Earlier on Thursday, Afridi telephoned Pakistan cricket team’s newly appointed head coach Mickey Arthur and pointed out weak points of the team.
In May, Afridi expressed his interest to play against England this summer and said if the board had allowed him, he had been available for Pakistan’s tour of England.
“I am happy to concentrate on my county summer at the moment and then we’ll see what happens later,” Afridi said. “However, I will stay away from the team for England series if selectors want to give the chance to youngsters.”
He said that he has already told the selectors that it’s fine to keep him away from the series and to see where the youngsters are standing.
The cricket board did not include him in the squad of the national cricket team for England tour.
However, the 36-year-old is available for Hampshire for the whole of the summer’s T20 Blast and will team up with West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy for the most of the competition.
