I will play cricket on my own terms, leave on my own: Afridi
Shahid Afridi says he plays for the fans and when the fans do not want him there, he will leave.
Afridi has been recalled to the ODI squad in what could be a 'last chance' to prove himself. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Under-scrutiny all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Saturday vowed to play and quit on his own terms on his own terms after being given a possible last chance to prove himself in one-day matches.
Afridi, who quit Test cricket in 2010, was recalled for Pakistan's five-match one-day series against South Africa, with the country's chief selector Iqbal Qasim warning it could be the last chance for some players, including Afridi.
But Afridi, who thanked the selectors for their faith in him, said he would only walk away from the game when he felt his time was up "I will never give anyone a chance to speak."
"I will play cricket on my own terms and leave on my own."
Afridi has been under pressure to perform after beingd ropped from the one-day team for the India tour in December last year. However, he was selected for Twenty20s in the same tour.
The dashing batsman, who holds a world record for smashing a37-ball century in a one-day match against Sri Lanka in 1996, has failed to score a 50 in his last 12 one-day matches and captured only seven wickets making it hard for selectors to justify his name on the team sheet.
Afridi, who turns 33 on Friday when Pakistan take on South Africa in the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Durban, said he plays for his fans. "If fans want to see me play, I will play, and if they don't want me to play then I will leave."
Pakistan will play five one-day internationals against South Africa, the first starting in Bloemfontein on March 10.
Afridi has so far scored 7,075 runs in 349 one-day matches with 348 wickets - the most in the 15-man one-day squad announced for South Africa. He has 845 runs and 63 wickets in 58 Twenty20 internationals.
Under-scrutiny all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Saturday vowed to play and quit on his own terms on his own terms after being given a possible last chance to prove himself in one-day matches.
Afridi, who quit Test cricket in 2010, was recalled for Pakistan's five-match one-day series against South Africa, with the country's chief selector Iqbal Qasim warning it could be the last chance for some players, including Afridi.
But Afridi, who thanked the selectors for their faith in him, said he would only walk away from the game when he felt his time was up "I will never give anyone a chance to speak."
"I will play cricket on my own terms and leave on my own."
Afridi has been under pressure to perform after beingd ropped from the one-day team for the India tour in December last year. However, he was selected for Twenty20s in the same tour.
The dashing batsman, who holds a world record for smashing a37-ball century in a one-day match against Sri Lanka in 1996, has failed to score a 50 in his last 12 one-day matches and captured only seven wickets making it hard for selectors to justify his name on the team sheet.
Afridi, who turns 33 on Friday when Pakistan take on South Africa in the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Durban, said he plays for his fans. "If fans want to see me play, I will play, and if they don't want me to play then I will leave."
Pakistan will play five one-day internationals against South Africa, the first starting in Bloemfontein on March 10.
Afridi has so far scored 7,075 runs in 349 one-day matches with 348 wickets - the most in the 15-man one-day squad announced for South Africa. He has 845 runs and 63 wickets in 58 Twenty20 internationals.