Afridi to retire from ODIs after World Cup
50
KARACHI: Pakistan's experienced all-rounder Shahid Afridi has announced his retirement from one-day internationals after next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Afridi told a news conference on Sunday that after the World Cup, which starts on Feb. 14, he will focus on T20 matches leading up to the T20 World Cup in India in 2016.
Afridi has been named captain of the national T20 side by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“I am the first Pakistan player to be able to announce his retirement properly and on a high. I always wanted to do this having seen the problems faced by other bigger players in the past,” he said.
“I have informed the Pakistan team management about my decision but not the cricket board as yet. I want to go out of ODIs with self-respect and with my fans wanting more from me,” he added.
Afridi, 34, has played 389 one-day internationals plus 27 Tests and 77 T20 matches for Pakistan.
He held the ODI record for the fastest century, set in 1996 against Sri Lanka, until New Zealand's Corey Anderson bettered it this year.
Afridi who is close to completing 400 wickets and 8000 runs in ODIs, having taken 391 wickets and scored 7870 runs so far, said he was hopeful he will be able to reach this landmark in the World Cup.
“Having taken a decision it is a big burden off my mind and I am confident I will be able to focus on giving my best in the World Cup,” said the colourful all-rounder.
Known for his run-ins with the establishment and his outspoken comments on Pakistan cricket, Afridi retired from Test matches during the series against Australia in England in 2010.
“It was not an easy decision to take and I think many of my seniors also found it difficult to go out at the right time. But no one is indispensable in cricket and I am sure sooner or later someone will take my place in ODIs as well,” he said.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (50) Closed
Dec 21, 2014 06:20pm
Good for him
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 06:28pm
Shame on him. He is announcing it now to win sympathies for getting selected for the world cup team.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 06:30pm
He may not be the greatest cricketer but for me he's a hero. He's one of the very few players who plays with all his heart and sincerity and most importantly for the nation. Will miss you lala!
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 06:40pm
plsss Misbah follow afridi
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 06:41pm
You will be missed Afridi.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 06:46pm
Give him ODIs' Captaincy, he will be there after WC also.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 06:51pm
Hope this is your final retirement announcement.
Should have done that 10 years ago.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 07:04pm
A colorful man indeed, Afridi changed the pattern of one day international, he brought such a color to this cricket world, history will remember him and will write his name with gold. Such a wonderful and amazing player you are, Afridi ! you will be missed.!! a sad decision for his fans including me.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 07:17pm
My hero.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 07:26pm
What is Misbah waiting for? He is atleast 5 years older than Afridi. Go Misbah Go.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 07:45pm
Why after?
Afridi now is a good time as any. Go.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 09:11pm
Up next in the retirement column, pleasee announcee it too: Misbah, Younis Khan and Hafeez Professor.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 09:14pm
Good decision by Afridi!!!
Misbah & Hafeez must retire from ODI respectfully after World Cup.
Thank you
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 09:26pm
No matter at all!
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 09:48pm
This is not retirement, this is securing his place for World Cup. Selectors will now "must select" him for WC2015.
And guess what I am willing to bet any amount that he will not retire after the WC once he gets offered the captaincy of ODI's.....just watch it's coming.
This is all drama by Adridi.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 10:10pm
Good bye.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 10:18pm
Great player Afridi. Team would miss you for sure.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 10:26pm
No one can provides entertainment which you provide by hitting sixs. I love when you hit six and English commentators say boom boom!
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 10:31pm
One of the best players of one day cricket. Pakistan will surely miss him, like we miss Sachin Tendulkar.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 11:31pm
Surely everyone is going to miss Afridi. Anwar and Afridi were charm to watch.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 11:31pm
Haters keep on hating.
But AFridi has been one of the biggest stars or Pakistan cricket.
We wish you well in the World Cup and your career in T20 LALA.
Recommend
0
Dec 21, 2014 11:49pm
That´s for 100th time, he is announcing his retirement. I guess!
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 12:39am
Afridi I was not your biggest fan but let me tell u that till u were in either pavallion or on the wicket I was always hopeful of pakistan winning. I've been disappointed more as i truly believed u were the last of the hopes. U r a super star and a legend in the long list we have from pak. Good decision on leaving at right time. You will be remembered as a champion always.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 12:49am
Hooray! Afridi please come in politics. Mian saab and Zardari are spot fixers and match fixers. Altaf bhai don,t have courage to play in home grounds and playing counties in London. Choadhry brothers have over dated and retired. Asfand yarwali is rusticated due to bad performance. Only Imran Khan is their but he is fast bowler he need hard hitter like you.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 01:27am
retire NOW
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 01:52am
Let's see after the world cup. These retirements have come several times before.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 01:55am
You should have thought about retirement many years ago.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 02:10am
Please retire all together from all forms of cricket....please! I wonder how you made it that far? and do make a hospital but please do not step into politics.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 02:59am
Lets see the same from Misbah,Hafeez,Akmal Brothers,Saeed Ajmal,Umer Gul,Shoaib Malik and Please,Please, SOHAIL TANVIR,If you have any shame or Self Respect,never show your Face in any kind of Venue again!
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 03:00am
True Pakistani!
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 04:02am
Don't joke yaar...u r only 22 years old now...
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 04:04am
Boss.. How many times will u retire! I am tired now!
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 04:06am
Afridis age is constant. He never ages!
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 06:07am
Yaar stop talking and FINALLY RETIRE !!!!
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 06:19am
I think he needed to stay on for a year or two as After Misbah and Younis we will need a senior for some time.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 06:22am
Pakistan wont find replacements for Andul Razzaq and Afridi.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 06:23am
Shahid Afridi actually 4- 5 years older then his current age. He admitted that in one of the interview. So he is 38-39 years old. That's why he knows his body will not be able to perform in coming years.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 06:50am
Lala, you have been an amazing entertainer! Cricket might not be the same for many of us after your retirement, We all love you!
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 07:16am
Will be happy to see him retire.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 07:24am
@nauman
"Hope this is your final retirement announcement.
Should have done that 10 years ago"..
I think among his many retirements, one was 10 years ago.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 07:45am
We heard this many times before !
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 07:53am
Sachin,afridi,sewag ok I stop watching cricket
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 08:26am
The Only cricketer after so many years who I can call a true Patriot and a true fighter. God Bless you Afridi.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 08:26am
Most unreliable player! If you want to understand the role of PR in cricket, we can look toward Afridi for being selected in the team, despite having a very bad performance record. This guy will lead us to a bad defeat, my gut tells me.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 08:52am
@Shahid Why Not?
Afridi average lower than wahab riaz
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 08:57am
And who is to say that he should be on the world cup team.
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 09:01am
those who are criticizing boom boom or questioning the timing of his retirement for getting selected in world cup squad must still have some burns left after afridi's thrashing to ashwin in asia cup this year.... for us Pakistanis he is no doubt the real entertained cricket has ever produced.... you can either hate him or love him but simply can't ignore him
Recommend
0
Dec 22, 2014 02:21pm
Wrong decision. He is fit enough to play another 2 years atleast. Plus he is performing well in both batting and bowling. Pakistan is already short of allrounders. If Afridi leaves there will be big gap and we no one in the pipeline to replace him.
Afridi please don't go like this. Stay for your country. Please
Recommend
0
Dec 23, 2014 07:35am
Misbah, Younis Khan and Hafeez should also follow suit. They have become a burden on ODI team. Performance of Pakistan Cricket team in ODI in the recent past warrants shedding of these burdens. We need bold decisions now. See what other teams are doing. They are continuously grooming new players and are performing very well. When we are relegated to 7th position in ODI rankings then what miracles are we expecting from these old horses. Go Misbah go, go Yonis go and go M. Hafeez go. Have mercy on our team. Do not block the entrance of fresh blood. We are fed up of your defensive mindset.
Recommend
0
Dec 24, 2014 01:28am
Pukkkaa??
Recommend
0
