Shahid Afridi retirement plans hit a roadblock

A move to give Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi a farewell during the T20 series against West Indies in the UAE didn’t really materialize with the former limited-overs captain left out of the squad for the 3 match series. The PCB announced that the move had come from the selection committee head, Inzamam-ul-Haq .

Afridi had plans of retiring from international cricket at the end of the World T20 in India and Shaharyar Khan, the board chairman who is recovering from a surgery had confirmed this earlier in the year saying, "He is also a Pathan and I am also a Pathan and once the agreement is done between two Pathans it can't be changed." However, before the tournament, Afridi had revealed that he was reconsidering his retirement due to “huge amount of pressure” from friends and family.

Following Pakistan’s poor performance in the World Twenty20 in India, Afridi stepped down as Pakistan’s captain but decided to continue playing in this format. However, after the World Cup debacle, Afridi hasn’t played for Pakistan as the new selection committee doesn’t see him as a part of the future scheme of things for Pakistan.

The hard-hitting all-rounder was made Pakistan’s T20 captain in September 2014 replacing Mohammad Hafeez. During his second stint as a captain, Afridi led Pakistan to 11 victories in 24 matches but his individual form dipped. During that period he averaged a below par 14.65 with the bat and took 20 wickets.

After undergoing an MRI scan on his knee in Karachi as a part of injury rehabilitation, he was optimistic of making to the Pakistan squad for the T20 series against West Indies in UAE but was eventually left out from the squad.

However, days after the announcement of the squad, an Urdu newspaper Jang published a report that claimed Afridi would be selected as the 16th member of the squad for the 3 match series against the Caribbeans as a part of a planned farewell. The all-rounder hinted at the possibility of retiring from international cricket during a media interaction in Karachi, but the statement was seen as equivocal.

"I have put no pressure on the board nor they on me but whatever happens it will be good and set new precedents," Afridi said in a statement in Karachi. "I have always noted that in Pakistan there is no tradition of players retiring gracefully, even the big names. Every player wants to go out on a high and I am no different.

"Players must exit respectfully since the ones who serve the country with distinction deserve honour. I have had a discussion with Inzi bhai (Inzamam-ul-Haq) who is an elder to me and we will do what is beneficial to both Pakistan cricket and my own self. This would allow players to decide themselves when it is the right time for them to retire gracefully and with dignity," Afridi quoted.