Pakistan’s Afridi defends himself after media row

Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi defended himself yesterday after a row with a television journalist that prompted the media to briefly boycott coverage of an ongoing training camp, saying he “always respects others”. Afridi was asked by Dunya News journalist Sanaullah Khan at the camp in Lahore on Wednesday how he would improve his captaincy after a recent 3-0 loss against England in the United Arab Emirates saw Pakistan plummet to sixth in the world Twenty20 rankings, from a high of second.  A miffed Afridi retorted: “I expected you to ask such a pathetic and low question, someone ask the next question please.” The dismissive reply on live television ignited anger among journalists, who boycotted the remainder of the planned events on Wednesday and demanded an apology. Khan, who had asked Afridi a similar question in November and received a similar answer, even took to Twitter with a live #AskSana question-and-answer session about the incident. On Thursday, Afridi defended himself and accepted responsibility for the humiliation in the UAE. “I always respect others and demand the same from others,” he said. “It’s under my captaincy that the team rose to number two but we made basic errors to lose against England and that affected our rankings.” Team manager Intikhab Alam managed to pacify the media, who returned on Thursday to cover the final day of the camp. “I have talked to Afridi and he has reiterated that he respects the media, so hopefully such an incident will not happen again,” Alam said on Thursday. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the incident should not be blown out of proportion.  “It should not have happened,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told media. “We will look into it but don’t take it as something big.”  Afridi has led Pakistan since Mohammad Hafeez stepped down in 2014, winning six of the last ten matches.  Pakistan will fly to New Zealand on January 10 to play three Twenty20 matches and as many one-day internationals, the first in Auckland on January 15. Afridi said he was sure the players would improve their rankings during the tour.Amir cleared to tour New Zealand after visa grantedMohamed Amir has been cleared to play in New Zealand this month with officials confirming yesterday that the Pakistan paceman had been granted a visa despite a conviction for spot-fixing. Amir, who served three months in jail in 2011, had been included in the Pakistan team to play three Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals subject to clearance from Immigration New Zealand (INZ). INZ area manager Michael Carley told Fairfax Media that a visitor visa had been approved. “In making this decision, INZ considered factors including the support of the New Zealand and Pakistan Cricket Board and that Mr Amir had served his sentence for his previous actions.” Amir said he was “delighted” at the news.  “I can’t wait to board the plane come Sunday,” he told AFP.  A Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman confirmed that the visa had been approved. When Amir was named in the Pakistan squad, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said he had no objections to facing Amir. “He was a very young man at the time and I think he’s gone through a sound rehabilitation programme and ultimately if he gets out on the field against us, then you play against the man you’re playing against not a man who may have made some mistakes as a youngster,” he told Radio Sport. Before the spot-fixing scandal, which also involved Amir’s captain Salman Butt and fellow Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif, Amir was regarded as the hottest property in international cricket.  He had 51 wickets in 14 Tests, 25 in 15 one-day internationals and 23 wickets in 18 Twenty20 matches. Pakistan play their first Twenty20 against New Zealand in Auckland on January 15.