It's doom and gloom for Pakistan

Given his volatile temperament, it's difficult to verify the veracity of the reason given by Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi for his sudden re-retirement from Test cricket after Pakistan's comprehensive 150-run defeat to Australia at Lord's yesterday.

It may well have been a gambit to pre-empt any likelihood of a precipitous sacking by Pakistan's notoriously capricious cricket selectors, widely known for even more irrational knee-jerk decisions in that country's tumultuous cricket history.

Whatever the reason, Australian captain Ricky Ponting was as surprised after the match at Afridi's decision as anybody else at the ground, considering that the cavalier Pathan was playing only his first Test after retiring as captain four years ago.

The manner in which the 30-year old Pakistani captain batted in both innings in this Test seemed to indicate he was in a tearing hurry to call it a day.

For the sizeable loyal contingent of Pakistani fans at the ground, "Boom Boom" Afridi's displays could only portend "doom" and "gloom".

Afridi's swashbuckling 31 in the first innings, inclusive of four fours and two sixes off just 15 deliveries and four-ball 'here-I-come-here-I-go' two runs in the second knock, unquestionably set an inappropriate example to his young troops.

"I did the wrong thing," Afridi said after the triumphant Australians trooped off the field following their 13th straight win over Pakistan, led by man of the match Marcus North, holding the match ball aloft.

In an assessment with which few will disagree, Afridi, the first player in the history of the game to be punished for biting the ball said: "I think my temperament is not good enough for Test cricket and I'm struggling with my side as well".

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi at the Lord's balcony during the first Test against Australia yesterday. PIC/AFP

"In Test cricket," Afridi said, "the demands are totally different. You can say I am not strong enough mentally.

Captains should be an example for youngsters and for the team but I didn't show any example".

And in a brutally frank admission that was as touching as it was impressive, the skipper added: "I am not capable of playing Test cricket".

Later, Afridi also cast doubt over his participation in next week's second Test at Headingley, citing citing concern over his side injury. He is likely to return for the one-day and Twenty20 series against England following the current Test series.

For whatever it's worth as far as the selectors are concerned, Afridi recommended that Salman Butt, who had an outstanding match with scores of 63 and 92, be appointed his successor as Test captain.

Set a target of 440 runs, never achieved in the 133-year history of Test cricket, Pakistan went into the fourth day yesterday on 114 for one, needing 326 more for victory. But the task was never within their competence.

His place in the Australian Test team in jeopardy going into this Test, part-time bowler Marcus North will see his unlikely name inscribed on the "neutral" Test name board in the prestigious Lord's pavilion, along with that of Shane Watson, who, along with North, had an unexpected five-wicket haul in this Test.

In a touching moment after the finish, South African umpire Rudi Koertzen was given a touching farewell, led by the players, in what was his penultimate Test and the last at Lord's.

Postscript:
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said at Lord's yesterday it is likely Pakistan would have to continue playing at neutral venues for the "foreseeable future".

He also said there were still issues to be resolved at government level before Pakistan could play a series against India at English grounds.