NEWS
Follow UsFormer Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi recalls a time in 2009 when he wanted to quit cricket. After Pakistan's triumphant World T20 campaign, Shoaib Malik had taken over as captain of the side and Afridi says that there was a lot of politics within the Pakistan cricket team at that point, which had put him on the cusp of retirement. “I decided not to play cricket anymore,” he told Samaa TV.
“Shoaib Malik had become the captain and there was a lot of politics going on within the team.”
Afridi then revealed advice from an elderly figure made him change his mind. “He said you’re so worried about your own performance and worldly matters. Just compare your hardships to those of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and you will realise that yours are nothing," Afridi recalled.
Afridi also recalled an incident where Shoaib Akhtar struck Mohammad Asif with the bat in the 2007 T20 World Cup. The former Pakistan all-rounder said that Asif had sided with him in a joke, which Akhtar did not appreciate.
“Things happen,” Afridi said.
“Asif had sided with me in a joke which enraged Shoaib and all this happened. But Shoaib has a very beautiful heart,” he further added.
One of the most decorated cricketers from Pakistan, Afridi's two-decade-long international career saw him play 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is. He still continues to ply his trade in the PSL.