Sports

Deserve to have a befitting farewell: Afridi

Former captain hopes PCB starts a trend of providing ceremonious exits to players

Our Correspondent September 15, 2016

PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: With speculations rife on the possibility of one final comeback to international cricket for Shahid Afridi, the former captain has emphasised that cricketers who serve the country for long periods deserve a rousing send-off and likewise he hopes to have one in the T20I format.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the seasoned all-rounder confirmed that he has discussed his future plans with Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq and the two have mutually discussed their plans ahead. “We don’t have a tradition of retiring players gracefully, which makes it tough for them to decide when to call it a day since we all have a desire of exiting on a high.

Shahid Afridi decides to retire from T20I cricket

“Players must exit respectfully since the ones who serve the country with distinction deserve honour. I have had a discussion with Inzi Bhai [Inzamamul Haq] who is an elder to me and we will do what is beneficial to both Pakistan cricket and my own self.”

Afridi has also asked for a greater role by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in helping players reach amicable decisions about their retirement, since the board plays a pivotal role in determining the future of the players under its wings. “I have always maintained that cricket board is like the head of the family and rather than communicating through media, we need to have a close knit relationship with PCB officials.”

World T20 victory united Pakistanis: Shahid Afridi

The 36 year-old who made a record 98 appearances for the men in green in the T20I format including participation in all six WorldT20 events played to date once again stressed that he had every intention of quitting the game at the end of the prestigious tournament held in India earlier this year but the poor performance of the team quashed his hopes of a ‘happy ending.’ “I wanted to retire after the WorldT20 in India and unfortunately it didn’t pan out the way I or my fans had wished since we bowed out in the first round.”

COMMENTS (31)

greatguy | 8 years ago | Reply such a looser, after loosing a worldT20 he said captaincy for Pakistan is not my ball game. you idiot why you didn't say the same thing before starting of worldcup, so we opt for any capable one.just go leave us

سے Shaam (Hanafi) | 8 years ago | Reply @Malik Tariq: Nice Idea, to add to that, He should be given a farewell in Pakistan (not outside) with the team of all oldies on his side who have a grudge against their retirement with the current playing 11 Pakistani team, Money collected should be divided among the aggrieved retirees including Shahid.

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Shahid | 8 years ago | Reply When shoaib wanted to perform in semi final for Pakistan you denied him the glory by saying Pakistan first ! Now he is asking for a chance for befitting a farewell hoping he can miss fire By Luck - not for Pakistan but for a glorified tombstone. Lol

Malik Tariq | 8 years ago | Reply The most that PCB can do is hold a special farewell match to bid him farewell in Dubai or Pakistan against a select World 11, but not in an official One Day match which has a bearing on ICC ratings. We must field the best and most fit 11 on merit.

Malik Tariq | 8 years ago | Reply Can PCB and Pakistan Cricket which is ranked No 9 in One Day by ICC and not qualified to take part in Workd Cap final afford to give a chance as farewell to Shahid Afridi who is not fit and has previously announced retirement several times only to retract it.?

MJ | 8 years ago | Reply I remember him once stating in a press conference, upon return from an unfruitful trip to India, that the reason for his poor performance was that somebody in India had cast a black magic spell on him. (Mujh pur kisi nay India main kala jaado kar dia hai, is liyay main batting or bowling achee nahin kar saka). He should've been sacked right then and there. What a lunatic!!

Imtiaz Awan | 8 years ago | Reply As per his fellow cricketers, This guy is atleast 9 years older than his official age. He should have retired gracefully 10 years ago. H e was a decent leg spinner with well below average batting skills. He was always involved in dirty politics in the team, always part of conspiracies. No wonder the current captains don't want him in the team. Unity in Pakistan team is at its best at present. The only irritant left in Pak team is shoaib malik, i hope they get rid of him sooner than later too and then our team wil be all set.

Shoaib Bhatti | 8 years ago | Reply No class and no dignity, Afridi stop embarrassing yourself with these nonsense demands.

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply He is a complete and utter disgrace to this Gentleman's Game. He is self centered and mildly talented at best. Not a game winner - a total FLUKE! Stay home man!

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply He is a disgrace to both cricket and Pakistan and he has played 20 years only because of his politics.

OSD | 8 years ago | Reply Oh retire already! If the PCB allows this pretender to rejoin the team, and make a mockery of our team's professionalism, I can guarantee many Pakistanis will get turned off from national cricket.

Imran | 8 years ago | Reply I think afridi should get another chance and reading some comments on here stupid ness people don't think what they writing why don't they play for team see how far they get thick people

Azfar Rashid | 8 years ago | Reply sorry no sir you dont !!!

SMAA | 8 years ago | Reply @Hello: Good thinking but for that one needs balls which sadly this as*hole of a cricketer doesnt have

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply Don't worry . We will celebrate "Youm-e-Nijaat" on our terms. You enjoy with your undeserving wealth.

z | 8 years ago | Reply PTI is waiting for you Mr.Afridi. they need to add another loony into their battalion.

Hello | 8 years ago | Reply Yes, he deserves a farewell kick in the pants!

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Players look to a glory retirement which makes it worse.Just retire when you have planned. So what if Pakistan was out of world cup early. It would not take any credit of Afridi's past record.That's how sports is. It's not an office that you can get one more day for a respectful retirement.

Abid Sultan | 8 years ago | Reply You already had what you want. No need to disturb the future game plan. We have enough of you. Good bye!

mani | 8 years ago | Reply No doubt you serve the team but paid very handsomely for your services. There are unsung heroes who give lives even without acknowledgement and financial benefits. Issue is not with PCB but with Pakistani cricketers who never wanted to be retired and PCB has no option but to drop them. Stupid argument that i want to retire at winning note but there are hundreds of players who accepted their and team performance and leave the podium

Asim Ali | 8 years ago | Reply I was trying to find a single comment on who agrees with Shahid Afridi and was not surprised to find a single one in support of his request. One needs to know as when to catch the surf and when to leave. Sadly for him and several other in PCB, they do not know/understand that with the result that they have the most unceremonious of exits. And same is expected for Shahid Afridi.

Umar | 8 years ago | Reply Plz leave....u have destroyed our cricket ...plz have some gracecand never comeback.

Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply Another immature statement! No where in the world we have seen the tradition of farewell matches. Look at Aussies, English, Kiwis, all their greats retired when they were playing! They were not dropped from the team and came back just for a farewell game! Every game is important! It is not your personal party that you want to host! And what will happen even if he gets this farewell match? He will hijack another match once again, and once again get a zero and once again take a deserving player's spot. Afridi you should have played your farewell match when you were actually in the team. That is the graceful way to do it. It is disgraceful to pressurize the cricket board through media to select you in the team when you have been dropped. You are not really winning any hearts this way.

Khurram | 8 years ago | Reply Grown tired of this man.using the media for his selfish interest

Asad Shairani | 8 years ago | Reply We don't "retire" players gracefully because they seem to be incapable of deciding for themselves. Afridi should have retired at least a couple of years ago - the fact that he needed to be kicked out to realize he wasn't at par anymore is sad, and negates his contributions to the game in his otherwise entertaining and long career.

PakPower | 8 years ago | Reply You got the farewell you deserved Afridi.

Bilal | 8 years ago | Reply Every other day this 'senior' cricketer continues to make a fool of himself on the media. I think it is quite selfish of him and others that think there needs to be a farewell game for senior cricketers. I still remember he didnt let shoaib akhtar play the 50 over game against india, and hence denied him what he now thinks should be made a tradition. Well i think any player selected should be done so on merit basis. If Afridi doesnt merit a place in the team right now, he should not be allowed to play 1 game just for the sake of retiring gracefully. Its lame to even think like that.

Bilal Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Buddy the best retirement ceremony would've been you leading the team from the front foot as captain read performance...but you bungled up that opportunity to party. Winning is one thing, fighting is another...you should've fought and it would've been a befitting adios

F Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Farewell for what? playing politics in the team,chewing the ball, using your tongue as a bat, not able to know if the boundary is horizontal or vertical?

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply This joker must take the cake ! What does he want ? A gold encrusted cricket bat ? And if a "rousing send-off" can't be guaranteed would he continue to perpetually torment us with: "now you see me retire, now you don't...!"

bash gul | 8 years ago | Reply Some of our players are retired disgracefully because of their loud mouth. They are intoxicated in their pride, but give poor performance, If he is still playing in the team must be due to someone's blessings. They cannot live without being in the limelight. He should be sacked, ever since he gave the obnoxious statement that THERE IS NO TALENT IN PAKISTAN.

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