Shahid Afridi, a former all-rounder, will represent Pakistan at the Over-40 World Cup, which will take place in Karachi from September 23 to October 8 this year.
This was decided at a meeting held here the other day. Shahid Afridi, Nadeem Omar, the director of PVCA, and Zafar Malik, the CEO of the Shahid Afridi Foundation attended the conference along with its chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association’s Fawad Ijaz Khan.
The World Cup will include eight teams, including Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia. The Shahid Afridi Foundation will serve as the event’s CSR partner.
The Pakistani team will also feature former leaders Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.
Afridi already praised Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, for his world-class cover drive.
Afridi was asked to compare Azam’s cover drive to those of Steve Smith of Australia and Virat Kohli of India on a local news programme.
In response, Afridi said, “Babar Azam, Virat [Kohli], and then [Steve] Smith.”
“Babar plays a great cover drive,” he remarked.
He stated that Azam is following Mickey Arthur’s advice as the coach of the Pakistani team.
Pakistan won at home 4-1 in a recent five-match ODI series against New Zealand.
“We always stress the importance of giving players an opportunity, and they have indeed received one. I believe that Mickey and his management group are currently in charge of all of these matters, Afridi stated.
“Babar is also paying attention to what the management is saying right now because the World Cup is approaching and we will need to conduct some trials. As a result, in my perspective, the captain, coaches, and management are all on the same page.
In addition to the home series against the West Indies and the away tour to Australia in 2023, Arthur will also serve as a coach for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. In addition, he will be there with the team when Pakistan plays India in the ACC Asia Cup.
In the years from 2016 to 2019, Arthur guided Pakistan to the No. 1 spot in Tests and Twenty20 Internationals. He also assisted the team in winning the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.
Last month, Arthur remarked, “I am beyond excited to be returning the Pakistan cricket squad and look forward to working with the group.
“Since continuing, I have kept tabs on the players’ individual and team performances. This group of people has the talent to be the best in all formats, and my goal is to put tactics in place and foster an environment that can help them perform to the best of their abilities, he continued.
