Pakistan's Asad Shafique Announces Retirement, Set To Become National Selector

Asad Shafiq, on Sunday (December 10), announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He announced his decision after leading Karachi to victory in the National T20 Cup final. Karachi defeated Abbottabad by nine runs to lift the title.

Soon after the game ended, Asad Shafique announced his retirement while speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony. The former Pakistan batsman said that he does not have the same excitement as a player and it played a major role in his decision. He also stated that he was hoping for a recall from the Pakistan team in the last few years.

“I am not feeling the same excitement and passion playing cricket and neither do I have the same fitness levels required for international cricket Which is why I have decided to say goodbye to all cricket,” PTI quoted Asad Shafique as saying during the post-match press conference.

“After being dropped in 2020 I kept on playing domestic cricket for three years in the hope of getting another crack at the Pakistan team But before the start of this season I had decided this would be my last season because I felt that closing in on 38 years of age this was time to retire instead of people telling me to step down,” the batter added.

Asad Shafique was a key member of the Pakistan Test team after the spot-fixing scandal in 2010. He made his debut during the Hamilton Test against New Zealand in 2010 and went on to play 77 Tests for his country. His last appearance for Pakistan in Tests came in 2020 during the tour of England.

In 77 Tests, the right-handed batsman scored 4660 runs with the help of 12 centuries and 27 half-centuries. He also played 60 ODIs and 10 T20Is for his national team and scored over 1500 runs with the help of 9 half-centuries in white-ball cricket.

Asad Shafique set to become national selector:

Asad Shafique also disclosed that he is all set to become a national selector. After announcing his retirement, the former batsman revealed that he was in the process of signing a contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB to become a national selector.

“I have got the contract from the board and I am looking at it and hopefully it will be processed soon,” he said.

“After the spot-fixing scandal in 2010 it was a very difficult time for Pakistan cricket and I am happy I was part of that process where we won back the confidence of the people in our team,” he added.

A guard of honour for Karachi Whites captain Asad Shafiq ?#NationalT20 | #AajaMaidanMein pic.twitter.com/QgNTc6BX2F

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 10, 2023