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19 March 2024

Pakistan cricket great Shahid Afridi to retire after World Cup 2015

Pakistani batsman Shahid Afridi plays a shot during the second one-day international between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Sharjah cricket stadium in Sharjah on December 12, 2014. (AFP)

Published
By Agencies

Pakistan's talismanic all-rounder Shahid Afridi will retire after the World Cup next year.

Afridi told a news conference on Sunday that after the World Cup, he will focus on T20 matches leading up to the T20 World Cup in India in 2016.

Afridi has been named captain of the national T20 side by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"I am the first Pakistan player to be able to announce his retirement properly and on a high. I always wanted to do this having seen the problems faced by other bigger players in the past," he said.

"I have informed the Pakistan team management about my decision but not the cricket board as yet. I want to go out of ODIs with self-respect and with my fans wanting more from me," he added.

He held the ODI record for the fastest century, set in 1996 against Sri Lanka, until New Zealand's Corey Anderson bettered it this year.

Afridi who is close to completing 400 wickets and 8,000 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.

"Having taken a decision it is a big burden off my mind and I am confident I will be able to focus on giving my best in the World Cup," said the colourful all-rounder.

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.

"It was not an easy decision to take and I think many of my seniors also found it difficult to go out at the right time. But no one is indispensable in cricket and I am sure sooner or later someone will take my place in ODIs as well," he said. 

Earlier report: Pakistan media is reporting that Afridi has announced his retirement from one-day international cricket but will continue to play in the shorter Twenty20 format.

"Afridi announces his retirement from ODI cricket after World Cup 2015, but will continue to playing T20 cricket," Pakistan Cricket (@PCB_INFO) tweeted confirming the news on social media.

Afridi was quoted as saying by Geo News reporter based in Karach Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani): "I realize that this is the best time for me to announce retirement, I've already told the PCB about my decision," Shahid Afridi.


He said he will only participate in the T20 matches for Pakistan as a captain after the T20 World Cup.

Afridi, deputised as captain when Misbah ul Haq stood down for one match against Australia, and during the last three one-day internationals against New Zealand when he was injured.

The veteran all-rounder struck a purple patch with the bat blasting 205 runs and eight wickets during the last ODI series.

Afridi, who will turn 35 during the World Cup, has played 389 ODIs since hitting the fastest century on his debut in October 1996 against Sri Lanka in Nairobi.

The record stood for more than 17 years before New Zealand's Corey Anderson broke it in January this year.

Afridi has scored 7,870 ODI runs and also taken 391 wickets, the sixth-most in ODIs.

Afridi had quit Tests in 2010 before leading Pakistan to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup.

Afridi is in line to become the most experienced players in ICC Cricket World Cup history along with Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardena at next year's event.

They were named in provisional squads for the tournament that starts on February 14 in Australia and New Zealand.

The two players made their World Cup debuts at the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999, and have appeared in every event since then.

Jayawardene featured in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and 2011, as well as the semifinal of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.

Afridi was a member of the Pakistan side that played the final at Lord’s in 1999.

He is likely join the exclusive company of Wasim Akram, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Aravinda de Silva, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jacques Kallis, Imran Khan, Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralidaran, Thomas Odoyo, Ricky Ponting, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Tikolo, who have each played in five ICC Cricket World Cups to date.