Pakistan star all-rounder Shahid Afridi has announced his retirement from one day International Cricket after an upcoming World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.
According to local media reports Afridi said, “I’ve decided to retire from one-day cricket after the 2015 World Cup. I always wanted to retire at my peak form, and I feel this is that time. I’ve told the team management and [captain] Misbahul Haq about my decision, and now I can play the World Cup with less pressure and do my best at the mega event”.
Afridi had stepped in as ODI captain in the recent series against New Zealand in the UAE in place of the injured Misbah-ul-Haq. He put in a strong all-round performance, with 205 runs at a strike-rate of 164. Afridi told reporters in Karachi that he wanted to go out on a high rather than being asked to leave.
He said, “I am the first Pakistan player to be able to announce his retirement properly. I always wanted to do this having seen the problems faced by other bigger players in the past. 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,” media reported.
“I want to go out of ODIs with self-respect and with my fans wanting more from me. But no one is indispensable in cricket and I am sure sooner or later someone will take my place in ODIs as well,” he concluded.
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