Cricket
Afridi: I'm not good enough
2010-07-17 06:53
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London - Shahid Afridi did not pull any punches as he announced his decision to quit Test cricket after captaining Pakistan to a crushing 150-run defeat in their series opener with Australia here at Lord's.
"I'm not good enough for Test cricket," said the hard-hitting batsman with a frankness matched only by the crassness of the shot that got him out on Friday.
But he insisted his decision, which will leave the infamously unstable Pakistan having to pick a seventh Test captain in three years, had nothing to do with the greater financial rewards on offer in Twenty20 cricket.
"I've got enough money. If I was playing for money I'd continue as a captain of the Test team."
Afridi did not appear to have given his decision to retire from Test cricket much thought, saying, to much laughter from the assembled reporters, he'd made his mind up "when I got out".
Pakistan, chasing what would have been a new fourth innings record 440 to win, were bowled out for 289 as Australia went 1-0 up in this two-match series with more than a day to spare.
Afridi, who hadn't played Test cricket for four years, was recalled to lead a largely inexperienced team in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan, both banned after Pakistan's 3-0 series loss in Australia earlier this year.
Given that on that tour Afridi was himself in disciplinary trouble for biting the ball during a one-day match in Perth, handing him the captaincy always looked risky.
Nicknamed 'Boom Boom' for his hard-hitting approach in limited overs cricket, the 30-year-old proved utterly unwilling to modify his style in the longer format at Lord's, where Pakistan's defeat was compounded by Australia part-time spinner Marcus North taking six wickets for 55 runs on Friday.
Afridi threw his wicket away when, off the fourth ball he faced, he slogged North to Michael Hussey on the mid-wicket boundary.
"A captain should be an example for the youngsters, for the team, but I didn't show any example so I'm not capable to play Test cricket," Afridi said.
"If I play cricket like this it's better to leave.
"I think my temperament is not good enough for Test cricket, and I'm struggling with my side as well."
Asked if by temperament he meant an inability to stop trying to hit sixes, Afridi replied, again to a backdrop of laughter: "Yes, you are right."
"I was double-minded if I go and take some time or I go and play my natural game. You can say I'm not strong enough mentally. It was very bad shot selection, I think."
Turning to North, Afridi said: "I think (Australia captain Ricky) Ponting intended to bring him on for just one or two overs and he was a golden arm."
Afridi admitted Pakistan were missing Yousuf and Younus.
"Playing against Australia, especially in English conditions, you need experienced people but I think definitely Younus or Yousuf aren't going to help us now so we've given a chance to youngsters."
Asked if either of the pair would be selected when Pakistan stayed on in Britain for their subsequent Tests against England, Afridi said: "It depends on the selectors, what they want, and what's going on between them, Younus and the cricket board. We need Younus Khan's experience in English conditions."
As for any regrets about taking on the Test captaincy, he said: "The cricket board decided, 'Just go and take a chance, maybe you will enjoy Test cricket as well,' but I was not really focusing on Test cricket.
"I tried but I think I'm not good enough for Test cricket."