KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who announced his retirement from international cricket for a third time soon after the World Cup to protest the working of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), says there is tremendous pressure on him to return to cricket.

A final decision on the matter, however, will be taken in a month's time, according to Afridi.

Experts believe the timing for the all-rounder decision could be based on PCB chairman Ijaz Butt's possible exit from the role at the end of October, and keeping the haphazard way Afridi makes his decisions it could be entirely true.

“There is a lot of pressure from fans and friends to come out of retirement, but I will wait for things to improve. I will take at least a month to reconsider my decision.”

Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a full series in UAE, starting October 18.

Afridi, meanwhile, has reiterated that he is work hard to maintain his fitness despite being on the sidelines.