Asad Shafiq retires from all forms of cricket

Pakistan cricketer Asad Shafiq has called it a day from all forms of cricket and is now set to be elevated to the role of Pakistan national selector. The 37-year-old recently led Karachi Whites to the National T20 Cup title on Sunday but cited the lack of motivation on his part as the primary reason behind his decision. However, the middle-order batter has decided to play three games for his department side Sui Northern Gas Pipelines in the returning Patron's Trophy with the side missing several players away on Test duty.

"I am not feeling the same excitement and passion playing cricket and neither do I have the same fitness levels required for international cricket. Which is why I have decided to say goodbye to all cricket," said Shafiq at the press conference.

Shafiq last turned up for Pakistan in 2020 and represented the country in 77 Tests, 60 ODIs, and 10 T20Is. Shafiq was Pakistan’s crisis man in Test cricket and one of the most successful batters across conditions. Between 2014 and 2016, Shafiq clocked over 2000 runs in red-ball format, tallying six of his 12 Test centuries during that period. 

"After being dropped in 2020, I kept on playing domestic cricket for three years in the hope of getting another crack at the Pakistan team. But before the start of this season, I had decided this would be my last season because I felt that closing in on 38 years of age, this was time to retire instead of people telling me to step down," he said.

Shafiq has already received a contract from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take the role of a national selector and that will be a smooth ease for him after having played domestic cricket for a long time.

"I have got the contract from the board and I am looking at it and hopefully it will be processed soon."