Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Khan Afridi has snubbed retirement calls and said at least a couple of years still left in him. “People have their say but I will keep on playing international cricket and leagues around the world for at least two more years”, said Shahid Afridi while talking to media before the charity match under the banner of his NGO, The Shahid Afridi Foundation.
Earlier former leg-spinner, Abdul Qadir urged Shahid Afridi to call it a day as he will “grow old” by the time another opportunity, to represent Pakistan, would come his way.
“Abdul Qadir were probably seeing himself in the mirror while saying so”, Afridi jokingly responded
On his exclusion from the Pakistan probables for the England tour, Shahid Afridi revealed that the chief selector took him into confidence before the decision. “Inzamam did speak to me before the announcement. I too wanted to have some rest before the English county stint. I am confident to earn my place back through performance”, Afridi said
Afridi, 36, also dispelled the rumors of grouping in the team during the disastrous WT20 campaign.
About his charity organisation, Shahid Afridi said he is willing to establish health facilities in far-flung areas of the country. He also reiterated his commitment to establishing a state of the art cricket academy in Karachi.
The writer is a sports journalist in Pakistan & tweets @mak_asif