IS THIS THE END OF BOOM BOOM ?????

SELECTORS TO DECIDE SHAHID AFRIDI’S FUTURE, SAYS ZAKA ASHRAFPAKNews

Zaka Ashraf, the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has said that the future of the out of form all-rounder, Shahid Afridi, will be decided by the national selection committee, led by the former Test cricketer,Iqbal Qasim. The Chairman has once again made it clear that he has nothing to do with the selection of the team.

“It is up to selectors to judge Afridi’s utility for the team, his form and fitness. I have kept myself away from the selection matters and would continue to do so,” said the Chairman.

Over the previous five years or so, Boom Boom has been a prolific performer with the ball for the Green Shirts, winning a lot of matches single-handedly. During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, played in the sub-continent, Afridi emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps, along with India’s Zaheer Khan.

However, the current year has not proved to be a very good one for the 32-year-old cricketer, picking up just 15 wickets in 16 One Day Internationals at a poor average of 43.13 runs per scalp. His showing has been worse with the bat in hand, scoring merely 182 runs at an average of 15.16 runs per innings, which is too less for a player of his stature.

In the recently-concluded ICC World T20 2012, the former Pakistan captain managed to score just 30 runs in six matches and grabbed only four wickets in the whole tournament.

Boom Boom has been immensely criticized by a number of former cricketers, who have been asking for his retirement off-late.

While talking about the proposed Pakistan Premier League (PPL), Ashraf claims that players from all across the globe will take part in the event. The league is likely to be played in March next year.

He mentioned, “Players from around seven countries have accepted Pakistan’s proposals and have agreed to travel to Pakistan for the League.”

He further revealed that the PCB plans to enhance the condition of the Abbottabad Stadium, because of its location suited for training camps.

“We want to make it a hub of activities for the national outfits,” Ashraf added.