Pakistan superstar Shahid Afridi has already retired from Test and ODI cricket, but the swashbuckling batsman decided to make himself available for T20Is, despite initially suggesting he would call it a day after the World T20 2016.
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Without Afridi’s services, Sarfraz Ahmed began his innings as Pakistan T20I captain with a fine win in England.
“An important meeting will be held on September 27 in which we will approve a method to extend send off to Shahid Afridi and other senior players at the time of their retirement”, he said while talking to media at the logo unveiling ceremony of Pak-West Indies series at Royal Palm club on Monday.
The writing is clearly on the wall for the ageing star.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Hafeez, who is still struggling with his fitness, has been dropped from the 22-member preliminary list handed to the PCB by former captain Inzamamul Haq-led selection committee.
“Afridi might have played his final match for Pakistan if the plan given by Sethi is followed to the letter”, he added, reported PTI. “Every player wants to go out on a high and I am no different”.
Afridi stepped down as captain after Pakistan’s poor showing in the Asia Cup and World T20 earlier this year and has since than been ignored by the selectors for the T20 global against England and for the series against the West Indies, raising question marks over his future as a Pakistan player.
Afridi, who quit Test cricket in 2010, a year ago announced his retirement from one-day cricket.
“I have always noted that in Pakistan there is no tradition of players retiring gracefully, even the big names”.
Inzaman said the series against the West Indies would be a tough one for Pakistan since they had some good players and were also the World T20 Champions. He wanted to continue as a player but has not been picked since.
After the 2016 World T20, Afridi turned out for Hampshire in Natwest t20 Blast the scoring 191 runs at 17.36 in 12 matches and taking nine wickets.
Now it remains to be seen what PCB does next as we all know Afridi has a huge following in the UAE.
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Former cricket legend Wasim Akram thinks Azhar Ali should be given some more time as ODI captain and that a change in leadership in the national cricket team would be premature.
