He also holds the world
record of a 37-ball hundred, against Sri Lanka at Nairobi in 1996. In all,
Afridi has scored 4,860 runs with four ODI hundreds and 26 half-centuries in 230
matches and also has 192 wickets.
The dashing Pathan spoke
to ICCChampionsTrophy.com here, and gave his take on the tournament as well as
his own team. Excerpts:
Q: There is a lot of
discussion about your batting place. Where would you like to bat?
A: I'd love to open the innings on sub-continent pitches, but I think it will
not be easy now as I have been playing down the order for quite some time.
Basically, I'll bat wherever the captain and coach want.
Q: How tough it is to
focus on the game after all that captaincy drama involving Younis Khan?
A: The players have settled down after what happened back at home and we all are
eager to perform under new captain Younis Khan. See, these things happen but at
the end of the day, we are professional cricketers and we will give it our best
shot.
Q: The team must be
feeling veteran Inzamam ul-Haq's absence…
A: Definitely. I mean he is a great player but we have to look ahead. In
Inzamam's absence all the senior players including me have to shoulder the
responsibility and rally around Younis.
Q: Coming back to your
batting position, has Woolmer or Younis Khan sounded you out?
A: I have adjusted myself according to the team's requirements. I don't know
what number I will bat in this tournament, but my job is to play for the team
and contribute to its success. Batting has always been a plus point but I think
I can also provide crucial breakthrough with my bowling.
Q: Who do you think are
the favourites to win the tournament?
A: It is a very big tournament for every team because whoever wins it, it will
be a big plus for them ahead of next year's World Cup in the West Indies. You
can't single out one team because any team can win. It's not a game of
individuals because you can win matches only if the whole team performs
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