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Shoaib, Afridi receive backing from Qadir
By
Nov 25, 2008, 10:03

The Pakistan cricket team’s newly-appointed chairman of selection and former leg-spinning great Abdul Qadir is supporting enigmatic stars Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi.

Fast bowler Shoaib, now 33, has faced regular turmoil with the authorities because of his ability to attract controversial headlines and he has also suffered with frequent injury problems.

All-rounder Afridi, 28, has also received too much negative media coverage for his antics while he is seen a hot-headed cricketer who disappoints more often than he impresses with his undoubted special talent as a hard-hitting batsman and leg-spinner.   

“Look, there are two types of players. A majority of players are good at their own craft and contribute to the team’s cause, but there are a few who have a winning mentality,” Qadir told the Times of India.

“Shoaib has always been a match-winner and needs special handling. I will sit down with him, sort things out and hopefully open the door for him so that he can give his best to the team in the final phase of his career.”

Qadir added: “You have to accept Afridi for what he is. Poor guy has faced too much criticism right through his career and very little credit for his efforts.

“Maybe, he has not quite done justice to his enormous talent, but I view him as a three-in-one player - a utility cricketer, who can turn a match with his batting, bowling or fielding.”

Shoaib is currently fighting an 18-month ban that was watered down from an initial fove-year ban in Pakistan. He is allowed to play while the court case is waiting to be heard, though sources have indicated that the Pakistan Cricket Board – a new PCB to the one that banned him – will drop their charges and clear him.