Shahid Afridi, the former captain of the Pakistan National Cricket Team, announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday. Afridi, 31, had quit Test cricket last year after leading Pakistan to a defeat in the first Test in England, but remained an integral part of the limited-overs sides, which he continued to lead until the recent tour of the West Indies. Afridi was quoted as saying that he valued “self-respect” above anything else and, in fierce criticism of the Ijaz Butt-led Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said he would not play cricket again under the current administration. Afridi said further that there was bickering in the team and the Punjab group was lobbying against him and was turning Butt against him. He said he always played with a team struggling with one crisis or another. He said in an environment of constant humiliation, it was difficult for him to continue. Afridi said he was ready to play cricket as long as the people wanted to see him play. Afridi was axed as captain recently despite Pakistan’s 3-2 success in the ODI series against the West Indies, and was replaced by Misbah-ul-Haq who has been in charge of the Test side as well.
