Afridi says no plans for international return

SHARJAH: Former Pakistan captain and flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi has reiterated that he doesn’t aim to play international cricket again and has already said goodbye to it.

The veteran of 398 ODIs, 98 T20Is and 27 Test matches told a press conference after his 28-ball-54 against Karachi Kings in the PSL that he isn’t playing league matches with the intention of a return to international cricket.

“I have already said goodbye; I am just playing this for my fans. For me, my foundation is more important. I have played for my country professionally and have done whatever I could,” he said in response to a question that if he still wants a farewell match.

“I have said this before as well, whatever cricket is left in me, I will continue playing league cricket for my fans, I am not playing these matches for any comeback [to international cricket] I am playing it for my fans and I am enjoying it,” said the flamboyant all-rounder.

Afridi last played for Pakistan in March last year, in World T20, since then there was a question mark on his international future as the former captain was aiming for a farewell match, which never happened.

The former player had told geo.tv last December that he had already played his last international match for Pakistan and doesn’t aim for farewell match anymore. In the same interview, Afridi revealed that he’s aiming to give full time to his foundation work now.

Shahid Afridi also insisted that the Pakistan Cricket Board must go ahead with the plan to hold PSL final in Lahore as this is a matter of our respect.

“PSL was meant to bring back cricket to Pakistan. The final in Pakistan is very important. I hope PCB will take a good decision. This is our own product and pride. We must play the final as planned, if oversea players don’t come then with local players,” he said when asked for his views on having PSL final in Lahore.

“I think final should be held in Pakistan, as planned, if not in Lahore then we have stadiums in Pindi and Karachi too, we can have final there, we have many options,” the former captain and Peshawar Zalmi’s all-rounder added.

The former captain also added that he will talk to the oversea players in Pakistan Super League to convince them to visit Pakistan and play PSL final.

“I will talk to oversea players, will tell them that they have already supported a lot, and now they should do a little more by visiting Pakistan to play the final for a day or so,” he said.

The 36-year-old star had already quit Tests in 2010 and ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup but still skippered the Pakistan Twenty20 team at the 2016 world championships in India.

He stepped down as captain after the tournament but retained hopes of continuing his career in the sport's shortest format as a player.

After stopping short of retirement following Pakistan´s first round exit at the 2016 World Twenty20, Afridi had wanted to play a farewell Twenty20 match against West Indies in United Arab Emirates in September.

But selectors, with one eye on the future, did not pick him in the squad.

Afridi finishes his international career having played just 27 Test matches which yielded 1,176 runs with a highest score of 156 and 48 wickets.

He played 398 one-day internationals with 8,064 runs, a highest score of 124 while taking 395 wickets with his leg spin.

His Twenty20 international CV saw him play 98 matches with 1,405 runs and a career-leading 97 wickets.