Afridi steps down as captain but won’t retire

KOLKATA: Many in the cricket world are convinced that Shahid Afridi is spent force and should have retired a long time ago. They are of the view that the all-rounder is one of the weak links in Pakistan’s Twenty20 line-up. They certainly have a point.

But the problem is that Afridi doesn’t agree with them.

On Sunday, Afridi put an end to speculations that he will retire in the wake of Pakistan’s dismal showing in the World Twenty20 championship.

Instead the 36-year-old announced in a statement that he is stepping down as Pakistan’s T20 captain.

“Today I wish to inform my fans in Pakistan and all over the world that I am relinquishing the captaincy of the T20 Pakistan team of my own volition,” Afridi said. “I would also like to inform that InshaAllah I intend to continue playing the game for my country and league cricket etc, and request my fans to keep praying and supporting me as long as I play for Pakistan or for any other league team all over the world

After the 2015 World Cup, Afridi had announced his intention to retire from international cricket following the World T20 in India. Earlier this year, however, he stated he was facing “huge pressure” from family and friends to not do so.

He was heavily criticised as a leader following Pakistan’s poor performances in the recent Asia Cup and the World T20. Pakistan’s only victories in eight games across those two tournaments were against UAE, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Subsequently, a report from the coach Waqar Younis said the players “felt confused with what the captain was telling them to do” The team manager Intikhab Alam said Afridi was an “absolutely clueless” captain.

Afridi had succeeded Mohammad Hafeez as T20 captain in September 2014. He won 11 out of 24 matches in that time. His batting and bowling form has also been dipping recently. Over the past 12 months, he has averaged 14.61 with the bat and 34 with the ball. Overall, he has led Pakistan in 43 matches, won 19 and lost 23.