Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi announced his retirement (though conditional) from all forms of cricket. Afridi said he was forced into doing so for the way he was treated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However he said he would consider revising his decision in case a new board takes over.
Shahid Afridi has played 27 test matches, 325 ODIs and 43 T20s. He averages 36.51 in tests, 23.49 in ODIs and 17.97 in T20s. He has also picked up 48, 315 and 53 wickets in each form respectively. He led the Pakistan side that reached the semifinals in the World Cup 2011 before losing to India.
He retired from Test cricket last year taking responsibility for the dismal performance by the batting line-up in the first test against Australia in 2010. He was sacked as captain despite the team’s good show in the West Indies and now he has chosen retirement as a means to showcase his displeasure over the PCB.
There were no reasons peddled out for sacking Afridi as captain, though it is learnt that it was because of the growing difference between him and coach Waqar Younis.
“I have decided to retire from international cricket because I am not in a mental frame of mind to continue playing under this board,” he told Geo TV.
“I am dejected and hurt and whatever I said about the coach it was in the best interest of the team.”
“The way I’ve been treated … the future doesn’t look too good. I can’t play under a board that doesn’t respect its players. Because of this, under protest, this is a conditional retirement.
“I wasn’t told anything when I was made captain, I wasn’t given a tenure, I wasn’t told what my squad would be, nothing. I took a broken team along with me. Maybe I have become a thorn in their throats. Its better that I step aside for now as I have respect for myself.”
Afridi will now be playing for Hampshire in the Friends Provident t20. He will also be available for the inaugural edition of the Sri Lankan Premier League, and will participate in domestic cricket in Pakistan.
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