Next retirement will be my last: Afridi
Afridi retired in protest after he was stripped of captaincy following the tour of the West Indies earlier this year. A reported rift with then-coach Waqar Younis and the former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt also came into the spotlight. Speaking ahead of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes event, which starts today, Afridi said the change of leadership at the PCB paved the way for his return.
“I stopped playing because of Butt,” said Afridi. “He has gone now and I am back. I am fit and want to play. The next time I retire will be the last time.”
Afridi added that the new chairman gave hope to the embattled side and took a swipe at the ‘old man’ he replaced.
“The new chairman’s impressive. He’s run a lot of companies, so he knows how to manage people and I hope it will be a good change. Butt was poor during his tenure. If you look at the things that happened, it’s clear he didn’t do a good job. I think he needs to have some rest – he is in his seventies – he is an old man.”
Following Afridi’s decision to retire, the PCB said that he had breached a code of conduct by announcing his retirement and levelling allegations against the board. In response, Afridi launched legal proceedings against the PCB, which were reportedly settled out of court.
The affair was the latest in a line of damaging episodes to dog Pakistani cricket, the most serious being allegations of spot-fixing during last year’s England tour which are currently being heard by a London court.
Afridi also said he hoped the conclusion of a trial relating to spot-fixing allegations, involving internationals Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, would allow Pakistan to step out of the shadow of the scandal.
“Whatever the outcome, it will be an example to our youngsters. It’s time to leave the issue behind.”
Afridi plays in an All-Star team at this weekend’s event alongside former Sri Lanka batsman-turned-politician Sanath Jayasuriya and South African Herschelle Gibbs.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2011.
COMMENTS (35)
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To Shahid Afridi - May Almighty Allah bless you with vibrant, strong health & vitality so you continue to play cricket for another 15 to 20 years! Your true/die hard fans cannot get enough of you :)
Shahid Afridi should have used the word "strike" instead of the word "retirement". People all around the world strike for better working conditions, and there is nothing wrong regarding going on strike to fight for your rights. Shahid Afridi went on strike, and now that the environment is more favorable, he is coming back - there is nothing wrong in what he is doing.
@Shamy: he is shahid khan afridi dude
@Mirza:
Was this comment by 'Mirza' or 'Misbah' :-)
Irrespective of the feelings and attributed logic of politics, Afridi has been a good captain and his recent all rounder stats are way better. Kindly shut up and remember the time of WC when he led Pakistan out of nowhere. Its becoming a habit that we taunt others irrespective of the good times they gave us. He boosts the players, the game and the nation. Haters can go to hell !!!
do it now, hav been hearing this drama for more than couple months,, afridi should stop these kind of silly, dirty priceless drama
@Mirza: Misbah is the one who let us down in the semi against india.......nobody forget that.....
Pakistani team badly needs you how ever avoid making big decisions in haste. Retiring is a respectable formal process after years of long hardwork in any field. Don't make it as a joke and learn to respect ethics.
Afridi's comment on Butt is really ageist and discriminatory.
Afridi has praised the new chairman as a good manager who knows how to handle people. Well I am sure the new chair will turn out to be an excellent manager but the question is how the new chairman will manage a person like Afridi who can't manage himself.
Afridi is good for politics only, or may be for show business. His return to the side would set a bad example for the young players. It return would be very damaging for Pakistan cricket.
oh no, I am so upset to read this news...do it TODAY please :)
who is he ?
Afridi needs to keep quiet and only concentrate on the game. He should realise that at the most, he is in his final four to five years of playing for Pakistan, in case he is selected back on the team. He should learn to age in a dignified and mature manner. No more politics, no more ego worship, no more stupid media antics, no more un-called for comments and definitely no more ball biting and false retirements. If he is able to do that, he's an exciting option for Pakistan cricket. But frankly speaking, I guess all that might be asking too much from Afridi.
"Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times." -Mark Twain
Why does this remind me of our greatest all-rounder Afridi?
Afridi is too unpredictable/unstable to become captain of team Pakistan. Retired 10 times already
How you can forget his efforts in world cup. he might have taken wrong decisions, his attitude might be not trustworthy, he might not be good with bat now, but look at his leadership skills and most of all, his bowling. he was the one who took us home safely against Canada when we were at the verge of mockery. and most of the all, he is the most honest cricketer in last 10 years. Reaching semi finals with bunch of kids was not even closer to imagination and then beating Australia and Sri Lanka. How ruthless we are. Boom Boom for life.
Like Pakistanis, we, Indians also like our heroes. I for one like them unsullied. I know they are human and cant be perfect, but I still would like them to stay away from controversies and confusions. It is very obvious that Afridi, ( No hero of mine ) has taken his fans for granted and forced them along the mud with himself. This is no way to treat the fan. I wrote in a comment of a previous article about Afridi in the Tribune that when Afridi announced his retirement, he was after Waqar, and if Waqar was removed then Afridi would come back with his tail wagging and make up with Butt also. He did come back rather gleefully ,and with the extention for Butt as head of PCB being refused the " Afridi Return " was imminent and that much more sweeter for him . Now he is flogging a dead horse by talking about Butt. Wonder what happened to the Pathan Bravado when Butt was at the helm and working on a possible extention. THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH TROUBLE AND FUSS OVER A VERY ORDINARY PLAYER WHO MIGHT STRUGGLE TO HOLD HIS PLACE IN THIS TALENTED PAKISTANI SIDE.
Surely Afridi was waiting for the chairman retirement, because as soon the ijaz butt resigned, Afridi pulled his retirement back...Good work Afridi, keep it up...
you are not trustworthy
When was the last time Afridi scored a century? How long ago was that? When did Boom Boom became Doom Doom? Afridi can only be included in the 20 team as an allrounder. Not in any other form of cricket.
he can be played as a specialist bowler. nothing more.
@Doctor, Are you taking too many of the pills you're supposed to be prescribing your patients? You've lost the plot.
Afridi's word is meaningless. If he is back in the team, he will soon try to undermine Misbah to get back the captaincy. The team members will be manipulated into picking sides. Good bye to the current team's performance. Until Afridi has another tantrum.
Afridi has 6 to 7 years more of his cricket life. In those years he will definitely score another hundred runs.
@Harish: what about raina....???? isn't he a cheater and match fixer...??] mend your own home and then point fingers
Afridi is praising the new PCB Chairman hoping he will be allowed back in the team. Just wait for the time when he is not selected, then we will see the real face of Afridi.
The cricketer turned politician has spoken to take care of his personal interests. What is the problem with the current young Pakistani team led by a highly educated and sober Misbah? Misbah keeps his big mouth shut and lets his bat and team results do the talking. Why do we want to start cheating and politics in the team again? Is it one cricketer's birthright to be in the team at all costs?
He's just trying to score points with the new boss... hehe...
Nice to know that Afridi is only 31. That means he can serve the Pakistan cricket for another 6 or 7 years...
great its a good news for pakistan. God bless u. play for the bright future of pakistan. we all love u alottttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
its a pleasur for pakistan as well as my self i love u boom boom u r a hero u r our proud we all feel hapy to see u on pitch. god bless u play for pakistan
You are not needed man, need some wise heads. Team is doing very well without you and will keep doing.
Off course it's great. More cheating to follow with you coming back to cricket