‘Boom Boom’ Afridi makes quiet exit

Wednesday, 1 June 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

(Reuters) - Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who was recently sacked as one-day captain, announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday.

Afridi told Geo News television he could no longer perform for a cricket board that did not respect its senior players.

“I have decided to retire from international cricket because I am not in a mental frame of mind to continue playing under this board,” the 31-year-old said.

Afridi, who retired from tests last year but continued to lead the team in limited-over cricket, was removed as one-day skipper earlier this month by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

His replacement, Misbah-ul-Haq, subsequently led the team to a 2-0 series win in Ireland.

After returning from this year’s 3-2 one-day series victory in West Indies, Afridi complained of interference in his work.

On Monday, the hard-hitting batsman and leg-spin bowler told Geo News there were “disgraceful” people in the board who could not tolerate outspoken people like him.

“I can’t work with such people. To me self-respect is more important than anything else and this board has no respect for me,” he said.

Afridi added that during his spell as one-day captain he was not consulted over squad selection and did not know until the last minute if he would be retained as skipper.

“There was no respect shown to me although I picked up a ragged and scandal-hit team and built it up into a fighting unit.

We reached the 50-over World Cup semi-finals (this year) and the reward they gave me was the sack,” he said.

Dismay in Pakistan over Afridi quit shock

Karachi, (AFP): Pakistani greats expressed dismay on Tuesday at Shahid Afridi’s shock decision to quit international cricket, as officials said the “doors are open” for the influential all-rounder’s return.

Former captain Rashid Latif urged the government to resolve the problem of the national team losing top players after Afridi, who was stripped of the one-day captaincy after a spat with authorities, retired late on Monday.

“His decision to retire, after people like Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf left, should be treated as a serious issue and I demand the Pakistan government to form a committee and solve this,” said Latif.

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