The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Afridi tones down criticism about Laxman

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Afridi tones down criticism about Laxman

Karachi: Pakistan player Shahid Afridi on Tuesday denied undermining the authority of V.V.S. Laxman, his captain at Deccan Chargers, but maintained that the Indian lacked aggression.

He started a war of words with Laxman with his unflattering remarks that the Indian lacked both aggression and leadership qualities. Afridi also felt that Adam Gilchrist would have been a better skipper for Deccan Chargers which cut a sorry figure in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League.

Stung by Afridi’s remarks, Laxman said the Pakistan player lacked team ethics and criticised him for his outburst without any provocation.

Seeking to placate Laxman, Afridi said he was being misunderstood but maintained that Laxman was not aggressive enough. “Perhaps what I said about the Chargers team on the television show has come out a bit too strong but my only point was that Laxman needs to be more aggressive on the field,” Afridi said.

“There was neither any intention to demean Laxman’s stature or contribution as a player and captain nor to create a controversy. I was asked a simple question and I answered it honestly,” Afridi said. — PTI

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