Cricket is going to miss you, Gul tells Afridi

Right-arm pacer praises retired all-rounder for his help in lean patches

Pakistan's most-loved cricketer Shahid Afridi, late on Sunday, bid adieu to the game when he announced his retirement from the T20Is — the only format he was still available for selection for the country.

The news came as a surprise for many after the 36-year-old had smashed 54 off just 28 balls for Peshawar Zalmi against Karachi Kings in a losing cause.

On this occasion, Pakistan right-arm pacer Umar Gul said cricket will miss the entertaining all-rounder.

He said in his tweet: "It's been an honour playing along with a legend like you. You have been a great force on and off the field. Cricket is going to miss you."

@SAfridiOfficial Its been an honour playn along wd a legend like u.U hv been a gr8 force on n off the https://t.co/NvKbi2GRll is gng 2miss u

— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) February 21, 2017

Gul then continued in another tweet and thanked Afridi for supporting him through his lean patches.

You have always supported me n my difficult times n will always look up 2 u. Wishing u good luck @SAFoundationN may u always success.

— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) February 21, 2017

'You helped change the game'

Sri Lankan batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya also wished Afridi good luck for his future saying telling Afridi that 'you helped change the game' for good.

https://twitter.com/sanath07/status/833942845362884608

Afridi's courteous reply saw him thanking Jayasuriya followed by a comment that "I only ended what you began".

Thanks @sanath07 . I only ended wat u began😊 https://t.co/QejvSQj3BP

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) February 21, 2017

Apart from Gul and Jayasuriya, Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik also said 'all the best' to Lala after praising Afridi's career with the national team.

A career that took Pakistan to greater heights with un-matched field presence & strong symbol of hope

All the best w @SAFoundationN Lala 💪🏼

— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) February 20, 2017

Afridi said he has no hopes of returning to the national side and will be focusing on T20 leagues and more importantly his philanthropic Shahid Afridi Foundation.