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Afridi hints at retirement after World Twenty20

Source:PTI
March 23, 2016

'That (the match against Australia) could be my last'

IMAGE: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi during their practice session. Photograph: PTI Photos.

Dejected Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi gave clear indications that he would retire from the shortest format after his team's campaign ends in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20.

After suffering a 22-run defeat to New Zealand in a crucial World T20 match, in Mohali, on Tuesday, Afridi said the upcoming game against Australia could be his last.

"That (the match against Australia) could be my last," Afridi said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had said that they had reached an understanding with Afridi that he will retire after the tournament. Disappointment was written large on Afridi's face even as he congratulated New Zealand.

"The bowlers bowled well in the middle, we played well in the first six but after that we didn't. We could have easily scored more than six but we didn't. "

"We tried to hit the ball, tried to go for the boundary and we played a lot of dot balls. We still keep repeating the same mistakes, every game we are making the mistakes. We have to forget this game and focus on Australia," Afridi said.

Their loss in two out of three games have dampened Pakistan's prospects of securing a last-four berth in the mega-event.

When Pakistan coach Waqar Younis was asked about skipper Afridi giving clear indications that he would retire from the shortest format after his team's campaign ends in the ongoing World T20, Younis said, "What should I comment on that? Of course, he has decided to finish playing cricket for Pakistan. I do not know what other sort of cricket he is going to carry on playing. But yeah, of course, he is looking to finish it."

Source: PTI
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