KARACHI: Charismatic Pakis­­tan all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Sunday declared that he would quit playing One-day Inter­nationals after the 2015 World Cup.

Afridi, however, will focus his attention to T20 cricket — a format of which he is the Pakistan captain — until the World Twenty20 to be hosted by India in 2016.

Afridi’s announcement has come as a surprise for many but the 34-year-old said that it was his long wish to retire from ODIs on a high.

Explosive all-rounder eyes 2016 World T20

“It was something I had on my mind at the start of this season. I had seen in the past how prominent players were forced into retirement in unhappy circumstances. There is no bigger stage than the World Cup and I want to use this platform to quit ODIs,” Afridi told a media conference.

“I would like to be the first Pakistani to be able to properly announce my retirement. Till now I have spoke to the cricket board but the [Pakistan] team management has been informed about this decision.

“I want to reiterate that my desire is to go out of one-day cricket with a sense of self-respect and dignity although my adoring fans want more and more from me.”

Afridi said that his performance in the recent series that New Zealand won 3-2 made easier for him to make the call.

“As always I wanted to perform as well I could. I had a good series [205 runs and eight wickets] against New Zealand and the thought came to my mind that this is the appropriate moment to let people know my future plans,” he remarked.

“I want to leave the stage for youngsters. There are many talented players who are waiting in the wings to play for the country. The future of Pakistan cricket is bright. I’m leaving after a career that has given me immense satisfaction and I’ve expressed many ups and downs.”

Afridi, who held the record of the fastest ODI century for more than 17 years until New Zealand’s Corey Anderson bettered it by a single ball, admitted that he was happy at his long list of achievements since making international debut at the tender age of 16 in 1996.

“I’m extremely grateful to Allah Almighty for giving me opportunities to play for Pakistan and make records. But I do regret losing the record of quickest ODI hundred [37 balls] on the first day of 2014 when Anderson took it from me. I was upset for a while after that happened but in sports records are made to be broken and I got over that disappointment,” he revealed.

Afridi also said that he was never aspiring for Pakistan captaincy but whenever he got it he tried to lead by example.

“Captaincy is one area that I never looked for. In fact, it [captaincy] chased me more than I craved for the job during my long career because public more than anything wanted me as the captain. But whenever I became the captain I never imposed myself on the team and tried to lead by example.”

Afridi reckoned Haris Sohail has the potential to be his likely successor as an all-rounder while adding that Ahmed Shehzad has the capability to become a surprise part-time bowler.

“Having seen Haris during the New Zealand ODI series, I think he has everything in him to become a very good all-rounder.

“As a bowler, surprisingly, he did a fine job with his left-arm spin and would be an asset for Pakistan in the future as well,” Afridi said.

“But I can see Ahmed Shehzad as well in that category. He is a useful leg-spinner and should be utilised as such when there is need for him to be bowling in limited-overs cricket. Both Haris and Ahmed give Pakistan handy options as bowlers.”

He said Pakistan shouldn’t be written off as World Cup title-contenders and recalled the pundits had given up on them during the 2011 tournament.

“Honestly speaking, I think we can go all the way despite recent results not going our way. The experts expressed similar views before the 2011 World up began. But nevertheless Pakistan qualified for the semi-finals after having failed to progress beyond the first round in 2003 and 2007 tournaments,” Afridi, a veteran of 389 ODIs, 27 Tests and 77 Twenty20 Internationals, emphasised.

“We have the potential to do well at the upcoming World Cup. At the same we can draw inspiration from the 1992 team that won the title against heavy odds.”

Afridi said he would look forward to completing the landmarks of 400 wickets and 8,000 runs in ODIs during the World Cup.

“Yes, it is something I would love to achieve. I am very close to [currently 391 wickets and 7,870 runs] those records.

“The decision [to retire] has taken a huge burden off my mind. I’ll not be confident but focussed on giving my best in the World Cup. Moreover, I want to win the World T20 title before I quit playing.”

Published in Dawn, December 22th, 2014