Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi has termed former cricketers Moin Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram as his top three skippers during his 15-year career.
He further termed late Bob Woolmer as the best coach he has ever played with.
“I enjoyed my cricket a lot under the captaincy of Wasim bhai. Moin bhai was also a tough cricketer and a fighting captain. Inzi bhai was good too. So these would be my top-three, the captains under whom I enjoyed my cricket a lot,” Afridi said.
Describing Woolmer as the “best coach” he ever had, Afridi heaped praise on the Englishman for his outstanding ability to motivate players even in the worst of times. The captain added that Woolmer helped him a lot in boosting his confidence.
“Bob Woolmer has to be the best coach. His coaching style was great, so when a player wasn't performing, Woolmer would sit with the player, chat with him informally, all this to ensure one's spirits didn't fall and the player wouldn't get demoralized,” added the 31-year-old captain.
The flamboyant all-rounder considered Woolmer’s era of coaching as the highlight of his cricketing career.
Afridi is the most senior player in the current Pakistan side with 320 One Day International caps. A true match-winner, Afridi is a mesmerising hitter but his inconsistency with the bat caused him to be in and out of the team over the years.
An aggressive all-rounder, Afridi was introduced to the international stage as a 16-year-old leg-spinner. He shot into prominence by hitting the fastest ODI century in his very first innings as a batsman. He also holds the record for hitting the most number of sixes in 50-over cricket. In bowling, he has taken over 300 wickets.
Afridi further revealed that he was enjoying his time as the skipper of the side. After his ICC World Cup 2011 mistakes, which cost Pakistan a chance to play in the final of the tournament, Afridi has vowed to make amends by putting up an improved performance against West Indies in the upcoming series.
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