Shahid Afridi Announces Retirement From International Cricket.Shahid Afridi announces retirement from international cricket. Its a shock but knowing Pakistan cricket he’ll be back in a month most likely
Shahid Afridi’s chances of regaining Pakistan’s ODI and T20 captaincy is all but over but the flamboyant all-rounder will get a chance to prolong his career as a player in the national team, a PCB source said.
Shahid Afridi’s chances of regaining Pakistan’s ODI and T20 captaincy is all but over but the flamboyant all-rounder will get a chance to prolong his career as a player in the national team, a PCB source said.
According to sources, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt has decided to revoke the policy of having separate captains for limited overs cricket and Test matches, which means Misbah-ul-Haq is expected to take over the charge of Pakistan team in all three formats of the game.
Shahid Afridi announces retirement
KARACHI: Former Pakistan one day capatin, Shahid Afridi has announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday evening, according to reports.
Local media reported that Afridi, currently in the US, had decided to announce his retirement from international cricket after weeks of estranged ties with the Pakistan Cricket Board which saw him being replaced as the Pakistan team captain.
Afridi had come under sharp criticism for comments he made about the team management when he returned home following a lackluster end to the one day series in West Indies which saw Pakistan cede ground too easily in the final two one day internationals. Pakistan had won the series 3-2.
His comments caused a storm between team management and the explosive batsmen and it prompted PCB to remove Afridi as the ODI team captain.
Afridi reportedly said that it was difficult for him to play under the current cricket board, which – he says – pays no respect to senior players.
Afridi had also withdrawn from the current two match series against Ireland citing ill health of his father as the reason to skip the series. Afridi had already been replaced by Misbahul Haq as the team captain by the PCB.
Shahid Afridi made his ODI debut on 2nd of October 1996 against Kenya and his Test debut on 22nd of October 1998 against Australia.
Afridi is the leading wicket-taker in the twenty-twenty format, taking 53 wickets in 43 matches.
In June 2009 Afridi took over the twenty-twenty captaincy from Younus Khan, and was later appointed one-day captain for the 2010 Asia Cup.
In his first international innings, Afridi broke the record for the fastest century in one-day international cricket, scoring a hundred in 37 balls.
Shahid Afridi Announced Retirement From International Cricket
"I cannot work with the people who find it difficult to tolerate statements in favour of cricket," Afridi said, adding that the duty of a coach is to work for the welfare and in favour of team.
According to sources, Afridi's disagreement with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over some issues resulted in his early retirement, the Geo News reported.
He said it was hard for him to play under a cricket board, which pays no respect to senior players.
"It is nothing short of an honor for me that Pakistan played world cup semifinal under my captaincy," he added.
Afridi, 31, had quit Test cricket last year after leading Pakistan to defeat in the first Test in England. But he remained an integral part of the limited-overs sides, which he continued to lead until the recent tour of the West Indies.
He was, however, axed as captain despite Pakistan's 3-2 success in the ODI series. He was replaced by Misbah-ul-Haq who has been in charge of the Test side as well.
Though the board did not give official reasons for the removal, it was believed to be the result of growing differences Afridi had with coach Waqar Younis, in particular over matters of selection.
"We had very solid reasons to remove Afridi and I will reveal them when the time is right," PCB chairman Ijaz Butt had said. "We haven't taken this action without any reasons."
