KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was looking forward to resting his aching limbs after returning home from the World Cup to a heroes' welcome Friday. Afridi, Younus Khan and Asad Shafiq touched down in Karachi, while the rest of the players and officials flew to Lahore where the Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman were present to welcome them. Despite losing to archrival India in the semifinals, Afridi was greeted at the airport by a large number of hollering fans who chanted “Boom Boom Afridi we love you” and cries of “Pakistan team has done us proud.” However, after all their exploits in the tournament, Afridi wanted a break. “To lose the semifinal was disappointing but I think now the time has come for senior players to be rested and new players to be tried out,” he said. Emotional scenes were also witnessed at Lahore airport where dozens of fans mobbed the players while others danced around. “The team has done the nation proud by defeating stronger rivals to reach this semifinal. I hope they continue to perform like this and bring more laurels for the country,” Sharif said. He announced a grand reception for the players on April 5 to celebrate their performance in the World Cup. Afridi criticizes Akhtar for abrupt retirement Afridi criticized speedster Shaoib Akhtar for abruptly announcing his retirement from the sport midway through the World Cup. The 35-year-old Shoaib, who has had a rocky international career due to run-ins with authorities and disciplinary issues, said he was quitting the sport on March 17 while Pakistan was gearing up for the knockout stages of the tournament. “I think he should have consulted us properly and made the announcement before the start of the World Cup or after it. His announcement in the middle was bad timing,” Afridi said . Shoaib played his last match for Pakistan on March 8, when it was thrashed by New Zealand. He was not picked for any of its remaining matches. Afridi was also annoyed with interior minister Rehman Malik, who said on the eve of their semifinal with India that a close watch was being kept on the Pakistan team to avoid any spot-fixing incidents. “The statement disturbed all the players and made no sense. Next time people should be careful giving such statements,” Afridi said. Afridi pulls out of West Indies tour Pakistan World Cup captain Shahid Afridi has withdrawn from next month's tour to West Indies, a source at the national cricket board said. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source, who declined to be identified, said the 31-year-old all-rounder had made himself unavailable for the tour which starts on April 18. “He will not be going to West Indies as apparently he wants to take a break from the game,” said the source before adding the player had spoken to the chairman of the PCB and explained he was not in the right frame of mind to go to the Caribbean. Afridi quit Test cricket in 2010 but had been expected to play in the one-dayers and Twenty20s in West Indies. Pakistan will play one Twenty20, five one-dayers and two Tests in West Indies.
