Pakistan is likely to push Shahid Afridi up the order in the ongoing Twenty20
cricket World Cup after drawing flak for sending the flamboyant all rounder too
late in the matches so far.
Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed spoke to his colleague Shafqat Rana,
who is with the team, and expressed his concern over the team management's decision
to send Afridi down the order.
Salahuddin has advised the management to play Mohammed Hafeez
in place of Imran Nazir and send in Afridi with at least 10 overs remaining
in the match to give him a proper opportunity to free his arms, a board official
said.
Sources in the board said the chief selector was not happy
with the strategy adopted by coach Geoff Lawson and captain Shoaib Malik
for the last game against India which Pakistan lost on a "bowl out".
Malik has copped a lot of flak for saying that his players
were not aware the match would be decided on the "bowl out" once it
was tied.
Sources said Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Nasim Ashraf
had also spoken to team manager Talat Ali on the issue.
Meanwhile, Lawson today said he is expecting a run fest against
Sri Lanka at the Wanderers, which he said traditionally produces big totals.
"I think 230 would be a safe total but anything over 200
would do. Sri Lanka is a dangerous side and we have to just ensure they don't
run away from us," Lawson said.
The Australian said the team would focus on restraining the
likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardane, who have been in prime form
in the competition.
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