Published: Sep 18, 2016, 10:46 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 18, 2016, 10:46 AM (IST)
The news of Pakistan star all-rounder Shahid Afridi retiring from international cricket has been making rounds for quite a long time now and recently Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has revealed that the board will plan a perfect goodbye for him as well as Saeed Ajmal. Afridi recently hinted at retirement anytime around Pakistan’s upcoming series against West Indies in UAE but has not confirmed anything yet. However, a recent tweet from Sethi marks and unofficial confirmation of the fact and it also made clear that the retirement might come during the UAE tour.
When asked by a Pakistan sports journalist on Twitter if PCB can arrange a charity match for Afridi, Sethi replied saying, “PCB will honour Afridi and Ajmal in fitting sendoffs. I will meet and discuss this with them next week.”
Here’s what Sethi said on Twitter:
.@HashmeNabeel @TheRealPCB Agreed. PCB will honour Afridi and Ajmal in fitting sendoffs. I will meet and discuss this with them next week.
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) September 17, 2016
Afridi recently told Express Tribune, “We don’t have a tradition of retiring players gracefully, which makes it tough for them to decide when to call it a day since we all have a desire of exiting on a high. Players must exit respectfully since the ones who serve the country with distinction deserve honour. I have had a discussion with Inzi Bhai [Inzamamul Haq] who is an elder to me and we will do what is beneficial to both Pakistan cricket and my own self.”
The quotes indicated a plan of retirement from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) as well as international cricket altogether. READ: Shahid Afridi decides to retire from T20I cricket once again; Twitter reacts
Later, talking to PakPassion.Net, Afridi said, “I have had a good relationship with Inzi Bhai for almost 20 years and he is one of the few people who I respect from my heart. I have always taken his advice as one coming from an elder brother. I told him what I wanted and he gave me his views on my plan.
“The cricket board and players should continue to talk like that in the future.”
“I am not sure what decision will be taken next week however, there is an impression in the media for the past few days that I have asked to be given a match to play so that I can leave cricket; this is completely incorrect. There have been a very few people who have bid farewell to Pakistan cricket with respect and honour. I would like the board and the players to work together to set a good example in this respect. If I really wanted to leave, I would have left after the World Twenty20 but I did not want to leave in that way. After playing for so many years, I have earned the right to leave cricket in a good way,” he concluded.
