Former captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has shown concern on consecutive defeats of Quetta Gladiators. Talking on a TV show, Afridi said that Sarfaraz Ahmed has to step down as captain of Quetta Gladiators.
He said that Sarfaraz should play only as a team member and focus on his own performance first to manage the pressure upon him. Afridi added that the responsibility for Quetta’s consecutive defeats lies on team management who has no alternative captain.
Responding to a question about Sarfaraz’s performance, Afridi cited an example from Islamabad United and said: “There should always be a player standing by on the bench who can take the place if the team falls short of any player.”
“This strategy is nowhere to be seen in Quetta Gladiators”, he added.
The former star cricketer also mentioned that several changes had been made in the team.
While citing another example from Karachi Kings, he said that the team is not performing exceptionally well, however, its captain Imad Wasim can be seen performing and leading his team.
The captain’s performance has an important role in the team’s performance, Afridi emphasised.
He further added that Sarfaraz has played a number of matches for Pakistan and he performed very well in those matches.
“Prior to the start of the league, I had talked to Nadeem Umar. He asked me for some advice. I had said the same then: Remove Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain of Quetta as soon as possible but keep him as a team member so that as a player he could perform well and he could absorb the pressure of his own performance and enjoy his game-play’.”
Quetta Gladiator squad for PSL 8
Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Roy, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Naveen ul Haq, Umar Akmal, Will Smeed, Naseem Shah, Odean Smith, Mohammad Hafeez, Umaid Asif, Muhammad Zahid, Abdul Bangalzai, Aimal Khan, Martin Guptill, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qais Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Dwaine Pretorius (partial replacement for Odean Smith), Will Jacks (partial replacement for Jason Roy), Nuwan Thushara (partial replacement for Naveen ul Haq)
