Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi reconsidering T20I retirement
Pakistan’s flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi is reconsidering his decision to retire from international cricket at the end of ICC World T20 as he is facing “huge pressure” from family members and friends.
On the threshold of his 36th birthday, Afridi is leading Pakistan in the five-nation Asia Cup T20 in Bangladesh and had announced earlier that he would retire from the shortest format at the end the World T20 in India. The mega event begins on March 8 and concludes on April 3.
Afridi had retired from one-day cricket last year, following his departure from the Test arena in 2010.
“For a while now there is a lot of pressure from my family, a lot of pressure from my friends, including my elders, who say there is no need for me to retire from Twenty20. That is a huge pressure.
“For now, in truth, I am focusing only on the World Cup. That is a huge challenge for me,” Afridi was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNcricinfo’.
Pakistan play India in their first match on Saturday in the Asia Cup.
Afridi is the highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game with 91 in 90 matches.
He said his final decision on retirement from all international cricket will also depend on performance in the Asia Cup and World T20.
Pakistan lost 0-3 to England in the United Arab Emirates in November last year and 1-2 in New Zealand last month a performance which left them in sixth position in the Twenty20 rankings.
Shahid Afridi set for Hampshire return
Big-hitting Pakistan star Shahid Afridi is set to return to Hampshire for this season’s domestic Twenty20 Blast competition, the English county announced Wednesday.
Afridi, Pakistan’s captain for the forthcoming World Twenty20 in India, will be available for the whole Blast tournament, Hampshire said.
Nicknamed ‘Boom Boom’ for his aggressive approach with the bat, Afridi is also an effective leg-spin bowler.
The value of his bowling was evident in last season’s final when, playing for Northamptonshire, he took three for 14 although that could not prevent a Lancashire win.
Afridi, who has had spells with several counties, last played for south coast club Hampshire in 2011 when he took 17 wickets in 10 matches and thumped 80 off 42 balls in the semi-final defeat to Somerset.
“I am very pleased to be returning to Hampshire, I really enjoyed my previous spells there and I’m looking forward to spending some time on the beautiful south coast and playing some serious cricket in front of the Hampshire fans at the Ageas Bowl,” said Afridi in a club statement.
Afridi, who has played 27 Tests, 398 one-day internationals and 90 T20s for Pakistan, has largely become a Twenty20 specialist in recent times. He holds the record for most Twenty20 international wickets with 91.
“This year it has been a challenge to get the top players over for significant periods of the Blast so we are delighted that he is available for the entire tournament,” said Hampshire director of cricket Giles White.
“Shahid made a huge impression last time he was with us and his return is a major boost ahead of our T20 campaign.”
