Published: Feb 24, 2016, 02:35 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 24, 2016, 02:35 PM (IST)
Pakistan Twenty20 International (T20I) skipper Shahid Afridi is reconsidering his retirement after huge pressure from family and close friends as he had decided to quit T20 cricket after ICC World T20 2016 ends in April. Afridi had announced his retirement plans after ICC World Cup 2015, followed by World T20 in 2016, but he has changed his plans and probably will continue to play. “I’m not saying that,” he told ESPNcricinfo in Dubai, when asked if he was going to continue playing. “I am saying there is a lot of pressure on me that I shouldn’t retire from T20. That I can play on, and as such there is no real talent coming through in Pakistan whose place I am taking.” READ: Shahid Afridi willing to give PSL fresh talents opportunity to play for Pakistan
“For a while now there is a lot of pressure from my family, a lot of pressure from my friends, including my elders, who say there is no need for me to retire from T20. That is a huge pressure. For now, in truth, I am focusing only on the World Cup. That is a huge challenge for me. First I want to see where Pakistan stand in the World Cup. Whether I am capable of taking the team forward on the back of my performances. I want to check where I am standing myself. As far as playing goes my fitness is zabardast (awesome). Energy is also there. I can play cricket. But I would be able to tell things clearly after the World Twenty20.” READ: Shahid Afridi’s reputation in the media ‘misleading’, says Andy Flower
Afridi led Pakistan from front in ICC World T20 2009 held in England where he scored half-centuries in semi-final and final. He has played in all five editions of the World T20 and has the most international caps and wickets in the format – 90 and 91. He is the third best bowler to hold strike rate of 6.66 with total of 200 wickets in T20Is and ahead of him lies off-spinner Sunil Narien and Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. His batting strike rate of 154.61 is second only to Andre Russell among batsmen with 2000-plus T20I runs.
