KARACHI: All-rounder Shahid Afridi Wednesday promised to review his one-day future after Pakistan's series loss to Sri Lanka, saying youngsters needed to be inducted with the 2015 World Cup in mind.
Afridi, 32, managed just 28 runs in four innings and his three wickets were taken at an expensive average of 48.66 as Pakistan slumped to a 3-1 defeat with one match abandoned due to rain in the series, which ended on Monday.
"Our performance was not as such as we were expecting," Afridi told AFP. "Now I want to consult my elders and then decide on my one-day future. I will have to sincerely review where I stand as far as my performance is concerned."
Afridi, who holds the record of smashing the fastest one-day hundred - off 37 balls against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996 - has not been on the best of form with the bat and has not bowled to the standard he set as a leg-spinner.
He has played 347 one day internationals for Pakistan, scoring 7,068 runs and taking 347 wickets.
But he managed just three wickets in Pakistan's 4-1 defeat against England in February this year.
He said Pakistan needs to build a strong team for the 2015 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
"I will make a decision soon but I have yet to decide on retirement. I will continue playing Twenty20 cricket if I leave one-day. I want to leave the stage for youngsters so that Pakistan can have a good team by 2015," said Afridi, who retired from Test cricket in 2010.
Highlighting Pakistan's fielding as one reason for the loss to Sri Lanka, he said: "Sri Lanka used their conditions very well and they are a strong team in their conditions, so they fared better than us.
"We lost mainly because of poor fielding. This has been our weakness ever since I started playing cricket, so we need to overcome that problem."
Afridi had an eventful last year, guiding Pakistan to the World Cup semi-final before falling out with then Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt after being removed as one-day captain.
In protest he announced retirement from all cricket but rescinded his decision after Butt was replaced by Zaka Ashraf as PCB chairman in October.
COMMENTS (14)
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He played in 347 ODIs and failed in 320 matches and could average a mere 23.48 yet he finds a place in the National Team. Why? A man with maximum failures is his world record. Chuck him and groom a younger guy in place of this useless guy who has better technique and can be more consistent and dependable. His footwork is atrocious.
afridi bhai plzzzzzzzzzzzzz don't do that....plzzzzzzzz don't go away 4m crkt we watch crkt just 4 yoU...if you quit crkt we'll also stop watching crkt......plzzzz lala just think about ur fanz we want u!!!some ppl r jalouse 4m you so pr4m well in ODI & t-20s and give slap on their faces....!!!
Time to go Afridi.....you are over the hill
About time. He is past his prime and retirement will be welcome.
He is a star and a talented cricketer. Media concentrate on such stars/players. Nobody has the right to tell him to be quiet or to avoid media ? Put yourself in his shoes, and then comment. Thousands of fans only watch cricket due to him. He has won you lots of matches and is still a valuable player. Its unfortunate to see comments like overrated cricketer, fb star or suggestions to be quiet.
Afridi is still a good player only if he stays quiet and lets his game do the talking. He is at it again and again and it is only going to destroy his and team's image. The Board should decide about his selection not the player himself. He does not own the team and would only play if he deserves. Learn from educated sober players and keep quiet please for the sake of your fans.
@Ahmee (Pakistani): very well said
No LALA, please no, we luv you!!! whatever you do, please do not leave ODI! We need you, you are the best!!! please please please no :((((((((
Afridi should travel with team and spend some time on the benches to realise that a star should perform on field rather than off field...FB/tv made him look star to me he is an over rated cricketer cause he never performed to his potential in his career.
His retirement plan at this time is strange, he should help build a team rather than quiting!!!
No Lala PLEASE! Every player goes through a bad slump - the team looks up to you and the country loves you and needs you on the field. Don't even think about retiring right now!
Please Please Please dont go Afridi. You will lead us in 2015 World cup IA.
“Now I want to consult my elders and then decide on my one-day future. I will have to sincerely review where I stand as far as my performance is concerned.”
So it means PCB do nothing if a player not performing well instead player decides himself either he should continue to play or not...???????
Drama queen. i hope it isnt another of his negotiating tricks with PCB
We are all huge fans of Afridi but this guy is just too emotional! This is a country where the President says that he will only leave in an ambulance and Afridi talk's about retiring after every series. He should take a lesson from the 'elders' in the team like Younis and Missbah.