Shahid Afridi Recollects The Time When He Almost Quit International Cricket In 2009

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has opened up on the time when there was a toxic culture brewing up within the team, making him not want to play cricket anymore. Shahid Afridi announced his retirement from international cricket in 2017, serving Pakistan for 21 years, playing 27 Tests, 398 ODIs, and 99 T20Is. The spin-bowling all-rounder revealed that after the 2009 World T20, he wanted to quit playing since there was plenty of politics going on.

The 2009 World T20 was one of Pakistan’s highs in world cricket as they bounced back from a heartbreaking defeat in the previous final against India to lift the trophy two years later. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka at the Lord’s by eight wickets to capture their first T20 crown, with Shahid Afridi earning the man of the match award. He grabbed bowling figures of 4-0-20-1 and hit an unbeaten fifty to carry his team to a comprehensive win.

Shahid Afridi recalled that Shoaib Malik had become the captain of the team and he did not want to play due to the growing politics. The 41-year old recalled the words of an old man, who told him to compare his hardships to Prophet Mohammad’s and realize that his problems are next to none.

“I decided not to play cricket anymore. Shoaib Malik had become the captain and there was a lot of politics going on within the team. He said you’re so worried about your own performance and worldly matters. Just compare your hardships to those of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and you will realise that yours are nothing,” Afridi told Samaa.tv.

When I played under 14 and 18, there was only cricket in my all life: Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi also touched on the incident during the 2007 World T20 that entailed Shoaib Akhtar striking Mohammad Asif with the bat. But Afridi defended Akhtar, saying he has a beautiful heart and recollected his young days when there was only cricket in his life.

“Things happen. Asif had sided with me in a joke which enraged Shoaib and all this happened. But Shoaib has a very beautiful heart. When I played under 14 and 18, there was only cricket in my all life. I used to sleep in my kit if I had a match the next day because I didn’t want to be late,” he added.

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