Sri Lanka’s cricket bosses have acted in time— and acted decisively by changing the leadership of the team participating in the T-20 World Cup. Lasith Malinga has either stepped down voluntarily or been replaced as Skipper. In both cases it is his vulnerability to injury that has been the cause. Due to his non-availability in the crucial matches, Chandimal had to step into his shoes as skipper. The team somehow could not perform to its full potential.
The new captain is Matthews.
The case of Pakistan team is totally different. There are confirmed reports that the head coach Waqar Younus and the skipper Shahid Afridi are not at the best of terms. Both are unhappy with the selectors too. There is a big question mark against both, the form of Shahid Khan Afridi as a player and his skills as a leader. It has been proved beyond a shadow of doubt that Afridi’s ability to read the game is as poor as his shot-selection at crucial moments.
Perhaps the best of Afridi could still have been acquired if he had been told firmly that he should concentrate only on his potential as an all-rounder, instead of rejoicing in the “my boys” role.
Due to indecisiveness of the top cricket managers of the country, Pakistan will be sending a ‘divided’ team to India for the World Cup. Meaning thereby that it doesn’t matter to the likes of Shaharyar and Sethi whether Pakistan wins or loses. What matters is participation.
