Playing for South Australia was highly rewarding: Afridi
While Pakistan were busy making a meal of the Test series in Australia, in the same country Shahid Afridi has been dining out royally — on both the cricket and local hospitality.
Afridi has turned on the style for unfancied South Australia in the domestic Twenty20s, launching them into the Champions League and an unexpected home final after winning the group. He was Man of the Match in his first two games, including an opening haul of 4-19, and he ended with 7 wickets at 6.16 and a batting strike-rate of 145.45.
In the grip of a heat wave, Adelaide has caught Afridi fever. Home games have sold out and he has been swamped at practice with dining invitations from the local community, which have included lavish 10-course meals at strangers’ homes.
When out and about relaxing, however, the public have otherwise only offered him the occasional nod, wave or handshake upon recognition. Used to being mobbed in Pakistan, India and England, for Afridi it is a change to be able to sit in a cafe or buy his favourite Armani gear in peace.
He is sharing a city penthouse with his manager Umran Khan and West Indies’ Kieron Pollard, the state’s other overseas player, and when not eating out in style, the trio engage in fierce Halal cooking competitions at home.
“Kieron burned the toast so we told him to stop, but Shahid makes a very nice lamb ribs dish,” reveals Umran, who also notes that DVD nights are popular: “Shahid was in hysterics after watching The Hangover.”
However, Afridi makes sure to keep up his strict training regime and he tells of his addiction while sitting relaxed on the Adelaide Oval grass after a net session in the heat. “Every day I do training,” he says. “Sometimes at midnight I train, sometimes 4.30 in the morning as well. It’s my drug!” He laughs, then is suddenly urgent. “I love to be fit and fitness is a good thing. If you’re playing, or not playing, training is always good to keep you young.’’
When at home his gym sessions fit around his family commitments with his wife and four daughters, aged three months to eight years old. The girls tune in to watch him bat but massage his ego they do not. “They are always making noises at home. [They’ll say] that ‘Boom Boom is playing... and he’s out!’” He laughs hard. “I say ‘Oh, thank you!’”
It’s a soft blow to his rockstar image, although he looks surprised at the very idea. For Afridi has mellowed in cricket and in life, hasn’t he? “I used to be a party boy, before my marriage in 2000. Since then I’ve been trying to be a good Muslim and a good boy,” he winks. Indeed, the interview was pushed back 90 minutes for Afridi to say Friday prayers at the Adelaide Mosque, the city’s largest.
But why, having said ‘Yes, no, wait, sorry’ to Tasmania, and having missed the final of the Quaid-E-Azam trophy, did Afridi choose to play for South Australia? “I didn’t play any four-day cricket at home because I was not in the Test squad and […] my father was not feeling well so I stayed at home to do my training. It was my wish to come and play in Australia’s domestic season.
“Playing here is totally different compared to the subcontinent — the pitches are very good and the domestic cricket is quite professional so I am very happy to be with these guys. They really train well and they really work hard. The cricket is like a religion here, the players are really very professional.”
The domestic fielding may not be up to his highest standards – he himself has dropped catches — but he is always impressed with Australia, who he judges the best in the world. When he links up with the Pakistan team he will reiterate his simple recipe for fielding success: “I always say to my guys: ‘If we enjoy in the field then we will improve. If we feel bored and are not taking it seriously then we will not be good fielders.’
“I think a few of the guys are not enjoying themselves. If everyone enjoys being in the field, automatically they will be good fielders.”
Afridi’s choice to play limited overs rather than first-class cricket may have had a bearing on Mohammad Yousuf’s recent warning that Twenty20 “will destroy Pakistan cricket.” Afridi shrugs off the suggestion. “Pakistan is not only playing Twenty20,” he points out. “All other teams are playing as well.”
He would still play Test cricket if asked — “Why not? I always think positive” — but he further notes the opportunity for young players to make their mark at that level. “Pakistan needs players in the Test squad who have a very good temperament, selected from the youngsters who have a temperament like Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan. We need these two or three players in the Test squad.”
He is all for giving opportunities where possible. Even the World Twenty20 squad, despite its recent triumph, is not set in stone. “As a captain I have some players in my mind,” Afridi says. “Some of the guys really performed well in the domestic season so maybe I will see these guys as well. We’ll choose the best 15 or 16 (from an upcoming camp, along with the selectors).”
Looking ahead to the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in May, Afridi finds no pressure in being the holders; rather the reverse. “We feel more confident so this is a good thing,” he says. “We will go with a good, positive attitude.”
Such an attitude sees him through every situation, even during the constant sadness of playing away from Pakistan. “The people are really missing us playing in Pakistan, but we are playing in Dubai and it’s like a home for us as well and a lot of spectators are coming from Pakistan to see us play these games. So, we are definitely missing playing in Pakistan but one day, Inshallah, it will come.”
When it happens, Afridi would like better home surfaces. “I keep telling the PCB we should go for good pitches, pitches like South Africa and Australia, so when we come to Australia our batsmen will never struggle.”
Mental battles are another matter, of course, as witnessed in the second Test in particular. But Afridi’s return to the squad for the five-ODI series starting in Brisbane on January 22 could lift very well lift them.
Discussing Younis Khan’s controversial departure from the captaincy is off-limits, but Afridi notes how much he enjoys being Yousuf’s deputy. “He’s very balanced with everyone, very equal, and that’s what I like in him.”
As his focus turns to international cricket, South Australia are preparing to do without him in the final but hope to welcome him again in the Champions League. Afridi will play if possible, and would enjoy it just as he intends to make the most of his international return this Friday.
Pakistan fans may not be surprised to hear it, but Afridi has confirmed in Adelaide that his appetite for cricket, and for life, is as big as ever.
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