Shahid Afridi - The answer to Pakistan's problems?

The swashbuckling Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi will lead Pakistan in its quest to secure a test series win against Australia. After months of turmoil and unrest within the Pakistani ranks , the board made a bold move to give its charismatic all-rounder a shot at captaincy . A brave decision indeed , give the fact that Afridi was an expatriate from test cricket for the last four years. A psychological barrier has to be crossed personally and he has to instill the winning mentality that has been missing in the team for a time. Mohammad Yousuf's campaign saw the team slump from bad to worse , triggering inquiries into the team's performance. He lost control of the dressing room and the on-field performances continued to deteriorate .The legends called for a few heads to roll and as scandals took center stage, the board handed out pink slips to its senior players. Coming at the back of such controversies, Afridi managed to take a relatively inexperienced squad to the semi-finals of the T20 world cup , where a Hussey special gave them a cruel blow. They did bounce back in the 2 match T20 series against Australia , where they avenged their earlier losses.

Shahid Afridi , is not exactly a leader who will do things in a pedantic manner . With a good grip over the game , he is a motivator , and any one who has been following Pakistan 's fortunes will agree. Constantly egging his bowlers and guiding them , he is the perfect one to lead this relatively inexperienced bunch of youngsters. Day 1 saw him take the game by its neck , by placing an attacking field with three slips . The bowlers responded as they choked Australia , constantly putting them on the back foot . Even when Clarke and Katich were looking to forge a partnership , Afridi persisted with an attacking field and reaped rewards . However , the gamble to hand debuts to two youngsters came back to bite the team , as the middle order succumbed to some brilliant bowling by the Aussies. Trailing by 170 runs , Afridi entered and launched a stunning counter attack , with an entertaining 12 ball cameo that shook up the Aussies from their slumber. He eventually perished , but the intent was clear. Attack is the best form of defense. At least , Afridi believed that .Phlegmatic in a way , as opposed to his philistine predecessors , Afridi has taken over a difficult baton to handle . With an uphill task ahead of Pakistan , the game is tilting in favour the mighty Aussies , but for Pakistani cricket it is a step in the right direction. An attacking captain , who has complete control over the dressing room was the need of the hour. And here's your man!

By: Anerudh Balaji