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Younis made it simple for me: Afridi

Shahid Afridi thanked his captain Younis Khan for allowing him to go up the order and play a match winning knock that helped Pakistan demolish Sri Lanka and win the World Twenty20 at the Lord’s here Sunday.

Afridi, promoted to No.3, hit an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls and was one of Pakistan’s chief architect in their comprehensive eight-wicket win in the final. Afridi also picked up his second consecutive Man of the Match award.

”I told Younis Khan that I wanted to bat at No.3 and he had confidence in me. He gave me a free hand and asked me to play my natural game,” Afridi said.

Afridi has been in terrific form with the ball picking up 11 wickets from seven matches and blossomed with bat in the crucial stage of tournament that proved valuable for Pakistan. In the semi-final against South Africa, Afridi came in at No.3 and blasted 51 off 46 balls to take Pakistan to the title-clash.

”I have been bowling well in the last two and half years but my batting was not upto my expectations. But I came up with good innings in the semi-final and the final of this tournament,” he said.

Younis said that Afridi was an assett for the team.

”We need a player like Afridi in both one-dayers and Twenty20. I have always felt that Afridi should bat up the order in both the formats of the game,” he said.