Published: Mar 02, 2016, 11:44 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 02, 2016, 11:52 PM (IST)
Sources suggest that Pakistan Twenty20 International (T20I) captain Shahid Afridi has announced retirement following Pakistan’s unceremonious exit from Asia Cup T20 2016. Pakistan, who had fought tooth-and-nail with Bangladesh till the 18th over during the latter’s chase of 130 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka, were eliminated following a poor 19th over from Mohammad Sami, that went for 15 runs (including two no-balls). Following the exit, Pakistan’s last league match against Sri Lanka has becomes redundant for them, as it has been for Sri Lanka: India and Bangladesh will clash in the Asia Cup final, to be played on Sunday, March 6, 2016. The retirement will also mean Afridi will miss ICC World T20 2016, to be played in India later this month. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Asia Cup T20 2016, Match 8 at Dhaka
Afridi had made his international debut in 1997, bursting on to the scene with a 37-ball 100, a world record that stood for 17 years. He had earlier retired from Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODIs). His T20I numbers, from 93 matches, stand at 1,315 runs at 17.77 (but with a strike rate of 149) as well as 93 wickets at 23.86 and an economy rate of 6.57. As things stand today, Afridi is the leading wicket-taker in the history of T20Is. Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 5 wickets; book place in Asia Cup T20 final against India
One of the hardest hitters of the ball and a canny leg-spinner, Afridi has also played 27 Tests (1,716 runs at 36.51, 5 hundreds; 48 wickets at 35.60, 1 five-wicket haul) and 398 ODIs (8,064 runs at 23.57, strike rate 117, 6 hundreds; 395 wickets at 34.51, 9 five-wicket hauls, economy rate 4.62). He has also led Pakistan in all three formats with mixed results.
