Afridi wants to reclaim fastest ODI ton record during World Cup

Published January 21, 2015
Shahid Afridi held the record for the fastest one-day hundred for nearly 17 years. -AFP/File
Shahid Afridi held the record for the fastest one-day hundred for nearly 17 years. -AFP/File

KARACHI: Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said during an interview that he will try to wrest back the record of scoring the fastest ODI century when Pakistan tours New Zealand and during the World Cup, NDTV reported.

The flamboyant batsman said if he achieves the record, it would be a memorable farewell for him and his fans from the limited overs version of the game

"You never plan out to set such records. It just happens when you have a very special day and your confidence is sky high. If everything works out for me and it is my special day than I will try to improve the record set by AB de Villers in New Zealand or in the World Cup," Afridi said in the interview.

Afridi said that he was happy to see someone of de Villiers class hold the record for the fastest fifty and century in ODIs.

"He played like a champion to get the record and it was his special day," he said.

South African de Villiers broke the record against the West Indies on Sunday scoring a century from just 31 balls.

Read more: Record-breaking De Villiers batters WI with 44-ball 149

Afridi held the record for the fastest one-day hundred for nearly 17 years after blasting 102 off 37 balls against Sri Lanka in Nairobi.

His record was beaten by New Zealand's Corey Anderson in 2013 in Queenstown against the West Indies by just one ball.

Afridi said he had never dreamed he could get a ODI hundred in 37 balls when he played in the tri series in Nairobi in 1996.

"It just happened that day it was my special day and everything clicked. I hope I get another special day in the coming World Cup if it can happen I will try to get back the record of which I was always proud.

"But realistically speaking I know that at the number I come to bat at these days one can score a half century but it is really difficult to get a hundred but you never know it could my special day," he said during the interview.

Afridi had announced his retirement from ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup in December.

Read more: Afridi to retire from ODIs after World Cup

The all rounder, 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.

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.

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