Afridi to retire after World Cup 2015

KARACHI: Renowned allrounder Shahid Khan Afridi has announced to retire from One-day International cricket after World Cup 2015,to be held in Australia and New Zealand in February and March.

Afridi disclosed this at a press conference held here at a local hotel on Sunday.

However, the Pakistan T20captain said he would continue to play Twenty20 International cricket upto 2016 T20 World Cup.

Afridi had stepped in as captain in the recent ODI 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 and eight wickets at an economy-rate of 4.03.

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.

He has scored 7870 ODI runs at an average of 23.49 and a strike-rate of 116.29. He has also taken 391 wickets, the sixth-most in ODIs, at 33.89 and an economy-rate of 4.62. He also played 27 Tests and 77 T20 matches for Pakistan.

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

Afridi,who is close to completing 400 wickets and 8000 runs in ODIs, said he was hopeful he would be able to reach these landmarks 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.