Former skipper Pakistan cricket team on Wednesday called on newly appointed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf here at PCB Headquarter amid high hopes of his return in the national cricket team. After the meeting, Afridi told reporters that his meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf remained "positive" and we discussed various issues pertaining to the game.
He said he had informed the chairman about his availability for the team and he is ready to play cricket either as a player or captain. "I still have a lot to offer to the Pakistan cricket and I am grateful to the Chairman for meeting me and listening to me. I am grateful that he raised my morale a lot," he said.
When asked about cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif who were found guilty of fixing part of Test match against England, Afridi expressed sadness over the spot fixing scandal and said this incident has badly affected national prestige. However, he expressed sympathies with the families of both the players. He further said that he enjoyed a good relationship with the current skipper of the team. He said: "I just want to play for Pakistan and it is for the board to decide in which capacity I play. I am willing to play under any captain. I have captained the side and now I am willing to accept any role in the team because I just want to play for my country." However, he said skipper of the team is always a scapegoat. He admitted that his selection into the squad was up to the national selection committee.
Afridi also backed PCB Chief's idea of having separate coaches for batting, bowling and fielding in the team and said: "I think it is a very good idea and it really does not matter whether we have foreign or local coaches. But the coaches should be qualified and should have the ability to support and lift the players even if they are not performing well." When asked about reasons of Waqar Younis's resignation, Afridi said, "I don't know why he resigned as coach but he certainly didn't look ill to me. He was very robust and healthy as far I know."
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