Shahid Afridi announces retirement from international cricket

Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi on 19 February 2017 announced his retirement from international cricket. With the announcement comes an end to his illustrious 21-year career.

Afridi had already quit Tests in 2010 and One Day International cricket after the 2015 World Cup. However, he still skippered the Pakistan Twenty20 team at the 2016 world championships in India.

About Shahid Afridi

• Shahid Afridi is a former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team.

• He made his debut on 2 October 1996 against Kenya. However, he did not bat and went wicketless.

• In his first international innings, he broke the record for fastest century in ODI cricket, reaching his hundred from 37 balls. With this, he became the youngest player to score an ODI century. The record was broken by New Zealand cricketer Corey Anderson on 1 January 2014. At present, South-African cricketer AB de Villiers holds the record for fastest century in ODI.

• He also holds a record of taking most wickets (97) and most player-of-the match awards in Twenty20 International cricket. He also holds the distinction of having hit the most number of sixes in the history of ODI cricket.

• On 21 November 2005, he was banned for a Test match and two ODIs for deliberately damaging the pitch in the second match of the three-Test series against England.

• On 25 May 2010, he was appointed captain of the national team in all three formats.

• In 2015, he was named among the top 20 most charitable athletes in the world by Do Something.

• At present, he is serving as the President for PSL team Peshawar Zalmi, which is owned by his cousin Javed Afridi.