Afridi, who was flanked by his lawyers Syed Ali Zafar and Mahmood Mandviwalla at a crowded press conference at the Karachi Press Club here on Monday, reiterated that he has been harshly treated by the PCB which not only suspended the flamboyant all-rounder’s central contract but also revoked all his no-objection certificates (NOCs) to prevent him from fulfilling his county and league commitments.Afridi, who abruptly announced his retirement from international cricket on May 30 in protest against the PCB’s attitude, has been summoned to Lahore on Wednesday to appear before the three-man disciplinary committee consisting of Shafiq Ahmed, Sultan Rana and Usman Wahla.However, his lawyer Ali Zafar made it clear that unless the hearing is conducted in an atmosphere of transparency and impartiality, his client will not appear before the committee.Afridi, who received a tumultuous welcome on arrival here from London on Sunday night, said the PCB’s decision against him was totally one-sided and biased after he voiced his differences with national coach Waqar Younis upon returning from the Caribbean which later cost him the captaincy of the limited-overs squad.“The PCB chairman [Ijaz Butt] took the decision [to punish Afridi] based on whatever the [Pakistan team] management told him. He should have given me a chance to explain my views over the happenings in the West Indies series,” Afridi stated. “I still maintain that I won’t play as long as the current PCB set-up exists. I have taken a stand on grounds of morality because senior players should be respected.“The unreasonable attitude [of PCB officials] is against the norms. Today I’m suffering for being honest. Tomorrow it could be the turn of other players to feel the same since a lot of seniors also feel humiliated by the PCB’s treatment, but they can’t stand up and fight because they are prevented by clauses in central contracts. But for me personal honour comes first and that is the ultimate thing in my life.”The agitated all-rounder further lamented that the PCB’s stance (of revoking the NOCs) has prevented him from representing Hampshire in the ongoing English Twenty20 domestic competition as well as the Sri Lankan Premier League which is set to begin next month.“Cricket is my bread and butter and as a professional cricketer I’m entitled to earn my living from the sport. But how can one expect to get proper justice when the committee consists of board employees? I can’t understand this process adopted by the PCB,” he complained.Afridi revealed that his future depends on the outcome of the inquiry. “I have never really bothered about playing or captaincy. In my career I have played under many captains, so even if someone like Umar Akmal is made captain I’ll play under him.”
Afridi went to court on Tuesday, demanding that the sanctions be overturned. The court adjourned a PCB disciplinary committee meeting set for Wednesday and summoned PCB officials to appear in court Thursday.“I don’t know why Pakistan cricket keeps inflicting suicide attacks on itself which are damaging for the game in a country already reeling under problems.”Khan, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup title in 1992 and now heads his own political party Tehreek-e-Insaaf, blamed the saga on a lack of unaccountability among the PCB.“The reason why Pakistan cricket remains in turmoil is because there is no stability, no institutionalism in decision making and because the head of the board is appointed by the president of Pakistan and is not accountable,” he said.Khan said that only Pakistan opposes a proposed amendment to the constitution of the International Cricket Council (ICC) that would suspend members appointed by government.“Because there is government involvement in our cricket, the PCB is opposing the proposed change in the ICC constitution. If the change comes about it will make the PCB a proper institution,” said Khan.He said frequent changes in the captaincy have destabilised the team.
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