Shahid Afridi says senior Pakistan players should get respectful farewells

Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi has demanded that the team's senior cricketers should be given dignified farewells after they unceremoniously axed veteran batsman Younis Khan from the one-day squad. An infuriated Younis had lashed out at selectors last week for not including him in their plans for next month's series against Australia, a decision he learnt about only when the squad was announced in the media. Younis, who has a history of making outspoken announcements, offered to step aside from all cricket for five months.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a show cause notice asking Younis to explain his outburst. But Afridi, who has already retired from Tests, backed his colleague, The Dawn reported. Afridi said that he requests the PCB chairman to talk to Younis and make a plan for the future, adding that he thinks all the seniors should be given a respectful way to retire.

Former Pakistan greats like Waqar Younis, Javed Miandad and Mohammed Yousuf were forced into humiliating exits despite years of service. Recently reappointed captain Afridi also admitted that his team would be missing the services of spinner Saeed Ajmal, who was suspended earlier this month after being tested with an illegal bowling action. Afridi said that they would definitely miss the ace off-spinner, but added that he is hopeful that Ajmal would alter his action and would be seen in action soon. Pakistan and Australia play one Twenty20 in Dubai on October 5 followed by three ODIs and two Tests, the report added.