Shahid Afridi Retires From International Cricket

Legendary Pakistan all-rounder nicknamed, Boom Boom Afridi, announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday. The 36-year-old made his international debut at the age of 21, according to the ICC. However, other sources say that he was merely 11 at the age and that opens up a whole new case.

Though, his 21-year career has had its fair share of ups and downs, his performance has always been stellar and therefore has remained in the limelight. The nations favourite had already quit Tests in 2010 and ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup but held his captaincy for the Pakistan Twenty20 team at the 2016 world championships in India.

Afridi finishes his international career having played just 27 Test matches which yielded 1,176 runs with a highest score of 156 and 48 wickets.

He played 398 one-day internationals with 8,064 runs, a highest score of 124 while taking 395 wickets with his leg spin.

His Twenty20 international CV saw him play 98 matches with 1,405 runs and a career-leading 97 wickets.

After smashing a 28-ball 54 in a Pakistan Super League match for Peshawar Zalmi in Sharjah, Afridi said,  “I have said goodbye to international cricket."

“I am playing for my fans and will continue to play this league for another two years but it's goodbye from international cricket.

“Now my foundation is important for me. I have played with seriousness and in a professional way for my country.”

Afridi also persisted that the Pakistan Super League season two finale should be held in the country during a post-match conference, “The final, as announced, should be held in Pakistan, with or without international players”.

The all time favourite player's career traces back to 1996, when in only his second match he set a world record that was unbeaten for about 18 years; striking a 37-ball-one-day century against Sri Lanka.

Also recognised as a leg-spin bowling all-rounder in the second half of his career and was an avid part of Pakistan's early successes in Twenty20, inclusive of their 2009 victory.

However, he was also banned for two Twenty20 internationals after he was shown on television biting onto a ball during an ODI against Australia back in 2010.

Leaving the crowds in awe every time he walks across the stadium, Boom Boom bids farewell with having played 27 Test matches which yielded 1,176 runs with a highest score of 156 and 48 wickets. Furthermore, he played 398 ODIs with a total of 8,064 runs, a highest score of 124 while taking 395 wickets with his leg spin.