Pakistan vs Australia – Afridi resigns as Test captain
Published:Shahid Afridi has resigned as Pakistan captain after admitting he doesn’t have the right mentality for Test match cricket.
“I am not capable of playing Test cricket and it is better to leave,” said Afridi, nicknamed ‘Boom Boom’ for his explosive batting.
It’s clear from his two innings against Australia that his fast-paced game suits the shorter forms, having got himself out twice going for big shots.
Before this week’s match Afridi hadn’t played Test cricket since July 2006, instead taking part in 35 Twenty20 and 71 one-day interntionals, and claimed the Pakistan Cricket Board had needed to persuade him to take the job.
Salman Butt, who top scored for his side in both innings of the first Test against Australia, will now take charge of affairs for the second match between the nations, which starts on Wednesday.
Having won the match at Lord’s by 150 runs it is unsurprising that Australia are 4/6 to win the Test at Headingley, while Pakistan are 6/1.
However, the draw, at 7/4, should not be written off given the overcast weather forecasts, which could take chunks of play out of the game.
If Butt, who scored 63 and 92 in the first Test, can restore a level of sobriety to the young Pakistan side, than could become a force to be reckoned with – especially later in the summer when they play England in four Tests.
“The important thing is that we have to be patient,” Butt said today. The new captain is 11/4 to be Pakistan’s top scorer again.
Simon Katich scored 163 runs in two innings against Pakistan and is 7/2 to get the most Australian runs in the Headingley Test too. See the full Pakistan v Australia match betting market.
