Pakistan:Shahid Afridi will not reverse retirement decision
KARACHI: Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi on Saturday said that he would never come out of retirement even though his legal battle against the board has ended in an out-of-court settlement.
“What I had said earlier stays and I would not back-track on my words and my decision. Retiring from international cricket does not mean that I would not play cricket. County cricket is also a form of cricket for me,” Afridi told reporters here at Karachi Gymkhana on Saturday.
After reaching an agreement with the board, where Afridi was re-issued his NOC to play for Hampshire, it was speculated that Afridi might take a U-turn as his other colleagues did in the past.
The most recent case was that of prolific middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who retired from international cricket last year but ironically he came out of it in the same year.
Afridi is hoping to make a fresh start playing for Hampshire following his clashes with the PCB.
The 31-year-old locked horns with the PCB by announcing his retirement from international cricket after being dumped as one-day captain, and criticising the current management.
The PCB said Afridi violated the players’ code of conduct, suspended his central contract and revoked permission for him to play abroad, preventing him from joining Hampshire in the ongoing Twenty20 league in England.
Afridi challenged the decision last week but the matter was settled out of the court following a meeting with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt in Islamabad, which followed Afridi’s appearance before the disciplinary committee on Thursday.
The committee restored Afridi’s no-objection certificate (NOC) to clear the way for him to play abroad but levied a heavy fine.
Afridi said he would fly to England on Tuesday with a fresh mind.
“The last 15 days were very difficult for me, but I have got the NOC to play in England and hope to put everything behind me,” he said.
The hugely popular all-rounder said he hoped to perform well for Hampshire in their title defence.
“I have no training for two weeks but hopefully I will start training and then do well for the county,” said Afridi, who will also feature in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League in July-August.
Afridi said he had decided not to appeal against the fine. “PCB took a decision which was acceptable to me, so it’s past for me now,” he said.
“What I had said earlier stays and I would not back-track on my words and my decision. Retiring from international cricket does not mean that I would not play cricket. County cricket is also a form of cricket for me,” Afridi told reporters here at Karachi Gymkhana on Saturday.
After reaching an agreement with the board, where Afridi was re-issued his NOC to play for Hampshire, it was speculated that Afridi might take a U-turn as his other colleagues did in the past.
The most recent case was that of prolific middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who retired from international cricket last year but ironically he came out of it in the same year.
Afridi is hoping to make a fresh start playing for Hampshire following his clashes with the PCB.
The 31-year-old locked horns with the PCB by announcing his retirement from international cricket after being dumped as one-day captain, and criticising the current management.
The PCB said Afridi violated the players’ code of conduct, suspended his central contract and revoked permission for him to play abroad, preventing him from joining Hampshire in the ongoing Twenty20 league in England.
Afridi challenged the decision last week but the matter was settled out of the court following a meeting with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt in Islamabad, which followed Afridi’s appearance before the disciplinary committee on Thursday.
The committee restored Afridi’s no-objection certificate (NOC) to clear the way for him to play abroad but levied a heavy fine.
Afridi said he would fly to England on Tuesday with a fresh mind.
“The last 15 days were very difficult for me, but I have got the NOC to play in England and hope to put everything behind me,” he said.
The hugely popular all-rounder said he hoped to perform well for Hampshire in their title defence.
“I have no training for two weeks but hopefully I will start training and then do well for the county,” said Afridi, who will also feature in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League in July-August.
Afridi said he had decided not to appeal against the fine. “PCB took a decision which was acceptable to me, so it’s past for me now,” he said.
Published by Unknown
on 01:28.
Filed under
.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0
