CHANDIGARH, India – Shahid Afridi seemingly called time on his international career following defeat to New Zealand in Mohali on Tuesday, saying in the post-match interview that their upcoming match with Australia could be his last.
“That could be my last,” said a dejected Afridi.
In the build-up to this match PCB chairman Shahryar Khan had all but called time on Afridi’s T20I career.
Having failed to secure a crucial win over the Kiwis and their qualification hopes hanging in the balance it looks like enough is enough for the Pakistan captain.
“He is captain till the World Cup under this understanding and he has said he will retire after the event. Even if he changes his mind and wants to carry on we will have to see whether he can be picked as a player or not,” Khan was quoted as saying as he also cast doubt over the futures of the Pakistan coaching staff.
It was not ideal preparation for the Afridi and his men who were preparing to take his side into battle in a decisive Super 10s match with the early pace-setters.
Head coach Waqar Younis was bullish over the reports but admitted that something need to change if Pakistan were to improve.
“He has of course decided to finish playing cricket for Pakistan. I don’t know what other cricket he’s going to carry on playing and of course he’s looking to finish it,” said Waqar of Afridi’s impending retirement.
“I think a lot of things need to be told to the cricket board what is going wrong and I’ve told it before in the past, it’s not the first time I’ll be telling. I’ll go back and have a look and I’ll try to make people understand who are in control but if they agree or don’t agree that’s entirely up to them.”
Afridi himself had planned to retire from T20I cricket after this tournament but in fashion true to form the all-rounder went into the competition saying he may well stay on after all.
Having played in 96 of Pakistan’s 105 T20Is, including their very first against England in 2006, Afridi has long been associated with the nation’s challenge in Twenty20 cricket.
But for all his long association with the shortest format and his fleeting moments of pivotal influence with bat and ball Afridi’s position has now come under scrutiny, challenged by the governors of the game.
A batting average of just 18.05 (below his bowling equivalent of 24.15), a high score of 54* and just four fifties and no century in T20Is has been a constant source of frustration for Pakistan who from the off would’ve expected their most destructive batsman to take to the game with greater weight of runs.
As for Waqar, the former fast-bowler began his second spell in charge back in 2014 but has recently had to defend his position after increasing pressure from fans and members of the PCB unhappy with the country’s progress, particularly in T20 cricket.
