19th May 2011

19th May 2011.
On this day Shahid Afridi was sacked from captaincy for violating the players code of conduct despite repeated warnings. 
Misbah ul Haq was appointed Pakistan ODI Captain as an immediate replacement. He was already the Test captain.

Hell broke loose among the majority of Pakistan supporters. Afridi was the darling of the crowds, Misbah was seen as the villain. Many couldn't stand the sight of him, literally.

Even though he won a test series in New Zealand that year and won 3 MOM awards in first 4 months of that year too. They still couldn't stand the sight of him.

On this day this page was also made.

We found it absurd that Misbah was getting the blame that Afridi could not behave himself.

He was already Test Captain and doing well.

He was already ODI vice captain and playing his part.

He was a premier performer in both formats.

Plenty of domestic experience in captaincy.

So was the logical choice with Afridi getting the sack.

Yet people were angry with the appointment.

3 years of this page. It's been journey of unshakable resolve shared together with how the captain has raised his profile. The finest example of a late bloomer flourishing.

I remember that day very well, 19th May 2011. Lots of people were saying impossible for a man who will be 37 later this month to captain in the next World Cup so why make him Captain, why not give it to someone younger or stick with Afridi in the first place? Why not give it to Hafeez if not Afridi? Someone who can lead in 2015.

We all know the result. Misbah approaching 40 in 2 weeks and is still captain and the World Cup is now just around the corner. He still has the leadership firmly in his hands, having led for 70 ODIs in a row. Hafeez has resigned from captaincy having only been tested in T20s. And Afridi, despite plenty of support from fans and media hasn't been able to regain captaincy and not long ago was struggling to hold his place in the side.

Tweets like the one in the picture have come back to haunt certain tweeters, big time.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=705663816145987&set=a.191601480885559.44866.191600374219003&type=1