“I just want to be an asset for Pakistan team and I don’t set long-term targets. As long I’ll be fit and I keep on performing for the team, I will continue to play,” said the 32-year-old cricketer while talking to The Express Tribune after returning from a charity trip in the US. “The day I feel I have become a burden, I will quit.”
Afridi said that he has decided to focus on training in order to regain his form. “I haven’t set any plans, and training to regain good form is my only target. I will focus on bringing improvement in my batting as I want to perform well in this area.”
He said that he hasn’t made commitments to keep focus on training during the off-season.
“I’ll be training extensively during this period,” Afridi told The Express Tribune.
The former captain missed the recently-held Super Eight Twenty20 Cup to make a visit for Sana Foundation, a charity organisation to raise funds for thalassemia patients. During his week-long stay, the all-rounder collected around US$90,000 for the organisation in what he described as a ‘relieving’ exercise.
Except from playing a winning role in the Asia Cup final against Bangladesh, the former captain struggled to make an impression in rest of the tournament apart from struggling in the limited overs series against England before the continental event.
Pakistan are not supposed to play any international series till the tour of Sri Lanka which will start late next month, if Bangladesh refuse to tour the country for the proposed series this month.
COMMENTS (44)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
In our part of the world cricketers don't usually retire.......they are forced to retire......exceptions like Dravid prove the rule..
regards from India
He is the only Man in the world who makes every one tense and that why every one loves him. We Love Boom Boom Afridi...:)
\o/ .| / \ Boom Boom Afridi!! We Love you!! :-)
@faryal: U are point blank.... \m/
You should have left 5 years ago.... just go away !!
for those who want afridi to get retired.. i just want to ask simple question do you think we have a strong replace for him..
What is shameful is the way he beat up that fan at the airport! He should have been suspended at the least. I remember Younis Khan doing something something worse with a fan.
It's shocking that both were not suspended,
Shahid Afridi - Most Charming/Charismatic Cricketer :) May Almighty Allah Bless You with Many Years of Excellent Health & Vitality so You can Continue to Play Good Cricket - Luv You 4 Ever, Darling :)
@bilal - Behave yourself ! He is our national hero and will remain so forever.
A fluke from day 1 and a burden for over 15 years. Immature- unable to learn anything throughout his "prolific" career.
@Dr. Priyanka - No, it doesn't!
@bharat: After some 342 games? How can you miss the number of matches? Why dont you just read my previous comment on this page?
Give 340 matches to Ravinder Jadeja he will get 344 wickets, which is 1 wicket per match ratio!
Shahid Afridi has scored 7000 runs in ODIs and 300 plus wickets. How can one say that he has not deliveded ?
In fact ,his bowling is unique and he has served Pakistan cricket well
@Mr Me Fans!!!! His Career performance against Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies Link:( http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/42639.html?class=2;filter=advanced;opposition=1;opposition=2;opposition=3;opposition=4;opposition=5;opposition=6;opposition=8;orderby=default;team=7;template=results;type=bowling )
Bowling average 38.37 though his career bowling average is 33.37. Which clearly states he is a minnow basher. He improves his average against weak nations.
How can a player who average late 30s in bowling is a great player! Please care to elaborate Mr Me fans!
@Mr Me! Retire for betterment of Pakistan! Go do shampo ads or play tamasha leagues around the world.
For anyone, challenging his performance. Stop putting things in terms of numbers and formulas. Nothing in the world works like that. He's a different kind of a player, he has unique set of skills. Dont expect centuries off him or wickets. Just see him as someone who can win matches via anything. I think if anyone wants to do numbers, kindly check the number of catches this guy has made .. he never looses one. We're lucky to have someone like him in the time especially when the national spirit and team spirit is generally down. It does make us all proud when Afridi or Shoaib or any of these players are applauded as they enter the ground.
You go to watch a match at the stadium and you'll find him one of the few players showing the fighting spirit and more than anything that should be encouraged. What did Imran Khan do in the world cups? Frankly .. nothing much. It was an all and all Wasim, Miandad and Inzamam cup but what Imran Khan had, none of the team players had and that was the 'no quit' spirit. Afridi brings that on the plate. We need the likes of Afridi and Younus Khan. My vote's still for him till the next world cup after which he should retire. A couple of months off shouldn't hurt him though, he should consider.
@ Nadia
Care to explain what CLASS means?
If not for 26/11, he would be playing IPL. He was part of the Deccan Chargers team.Hyderabad misses you Afridi!
You have been a burden for far too long already. You have appeared in about 340 matches and you have failed in 300 hundred. Isn't that a great record - maximum failures. Now time to say bye bye. Go man go. Your batting has never helped us so why are you there. Particularly when you could not score in the semifinal against India in the world cup you should have gone. Instead you conspired to send the most talented bowler of all time to go home. Quit before you are kicked out.
Lahore
Afridi is a real hero and real king of pakistani i he play world cup 2015 pakistan has a great chance to win the world cup afridi will perform and he is the only real performer for pakistan cricket team
Plz make way for Imran Nazir and Ahmed Shazad
The time has come. Be on your way.
Pakistan won asian cup because of afridi
All those who critisized AFRIDI, i have ask a Question from those, can u please explain in current team which pakistani player performance is satisfactory........????????????
Cricket is not cricket with out afridi.
Afridi, don't take the negative criticism which is all over the comments. We as a nation have probably decided to live in negativity and pointless criticism. Sure when some young talent is good enough, his place will be created. Rather the youngsters will have to prove they deserve a spot in the team and you are not stopping anybody from doing that....!
there is something charismatic about him..!
All those opposing Afridi here should go and get a life for themselves. Or at least try following cricket before commenting on such posts. He has been a match winner recently. Everybody has a bad patch, so if hez not performing does not mean we should throw him out of team. He is at peak of his career and dont worry soon he will shut your mouths.
Better say "Good Bye" in a respectable way. Good for you n good for the team too. Let a young talented guy replace you.
Afridi is a national hero - he brings flamboyance, talent and excitement to the game in batting (once he gets going), bowling (one of the highest wicket takers) and fielding when rarely a ball goes by him. Every player has a slump once in a while - and this stupid talk about his age - please - were you there when he was born?? Shahid Khan Afridi is fearless and will remain our cricketing hero forever. We love you AFRIDI!
He was burden right from his first appearance. After playing well over 300 international matches he has learned how to shine amongst other club level players. Keep on playing sir, we are used to it now.
for those who is saying Afridi was & is burden from the beginning of his career brothers
he is highest wicket taker from Pak side from last 7 year & so
2nd or third highest wicket taker in world from last 7 year
& please don t forget his contribution in wt20 we won because of his contribution
please open ur eyes and
if some one has doubt they can check on cricinfo statusguru for afridi stats
and yes afridi has won 2nd number of highest mom/mos awards for pak
number one was waqar younis
a winning role against Asia Cup in the final? seriously???
With all due respect Mr Afridi you are a burden. Please give time to new talents.
Thanks for not doing anything in the semi final against India last world cup and same this year against India.
@Bilal : Your comments reflects your cricketing illiteracy bro :) ............. afridi is the deserving player of one day and t-20!
@Bilal: Officially he is 32 and I doubt if you were present at the time of of his birth. He is the most successful Pakistani all rounder (7000+ runs and almost 350 wickets) and has got the most man of the match awards than any other Pakistani player.
afridi is the greatest pakistani player of all time. the haters will want to destroy him. but he will silence them by performance. the number of matches he made pakistan winner is far more than sachin did for india.
But Afridi is still a burden on batting line-up and also not performing with the ball. PCB should make their bench strength more impressive so that seniors can feel the heat of it. Being a senior memeber of the team he is not fullfilling his responsibilties and throwing away his wickit like a street player in every match. We want him to play while taking responsibility especially with the bat, because pak batting is facing more troubles than bowling.
First of all, he is 37 - not 32 years old.
Secondly, he has been a non-performing burden for about 15 years now. If he hasn't quit so far, don`t think he will quit now. He will have to be thrown out kicking and screaming - that is the only way he will go.