KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain and legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi has come out in favor of both overlooked veteran national cricketers Ahmed Shezad and Umar Akmal in the historic Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11-man auction.
The marquee league, which was launched with five teams in 2016 and later expanded to six sides in 2018, is set to enter a new era with the addition of two new owners, Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen and Sialkot Stallions.
The much-anticipated 11th edition, scheduled to be held from March 26 to May 3, saw the eight teams build their respective squads through player auctions, rather than the draft – a player selection model that was in place for the first 10 seasons.
A total of 103 players found buyers during the historic auction, but several notable names failed to attract any buyers; Akmal and Shehzad among them were part of the Quetta Gladiators team that won the coveted title in 2019.
For the uninitiated, Shesad last featured in the PSL in the 2020 edition, while Akmal last appeared in the marquee league with the Gladiators in the 2023 edition.
The duo’s absence from the marquee league became a point of discussion among cricket fans and the fraternity after a video of an emotional Shejad went viral on social media earlier this week when she was asked to share his feelings on the PSL snub during Geo News’ show Harna Mana Hai.
Former national cricket team captain Afridi also joined the duo in the ongoing conversation, insisting that they deserve respect and should not be overlooked to such an extent.
He also called for Akmal and Shehzad to be given more opportunities, stressing that they have continued to practice and play despite being away from professional cricket.
“From my point of view, I believe we are completely ignoring some players. After the arrival of two new teams, I was hoping some of our experienced cricketers would be considered,” Afridi said on a local news channel’s programme.
“I think it is necessary to mention them here – I have done so before and will do so again – it is Umar Akmal or Ahmed Shehzad.
“I feel they are still playing regularly; they are visible in training sessions, training and in the gym. I don’t think they should be overlooked to this extent.
“They deserve respect. Both have played well in the past. They are quality players and great cricketers. I believe they should not be overlooked too much and should be given opportunities – they should be given opportunities.”
Afridi further asserted that Akmal and Shehzad would have definitely opted if they had joined the PSL team, stressing that senior players often have attitude issues and therefore different people should be handled differently.
“If I join any team, I will definitely include these two players. The key question is how to manage them. Senior players often have attitude issues,” Afridi continued.
“Every child in a home is not the same; you treat each one differently. Similarly, players should be treated according to their character,” he added.
Afridi backed his stance by recalling his Pakistan captaincy days, Akmal and Shehzad were an integral part of the team and insisted he knew how to manage them.
The legendary all-rounder said understanding players’ strengths and weaknesses is the “real art” of coaching and essential to extracting performance from them.
“When I was the captain and worked with them, I knew how to manage them and how to deal with others,” Afridi recalled.
“That’s what man management is all about at this level. When people talk about coaching, that’s what real coaching is: understanding a player’s strengths and weaknesses and aligning with them accordingly, managing them properly and guiding them in the right way.
“That’s the real art of getting players to perform. I’ve always believed in man management. Everyone has different methods, but you have to know how to get the best out of each player and in what way.”
“I believe Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad should have been included in at least one team.”