Shahid Afridi said he was no longer up to captaining Pakistan after his team's exit Friday from the World Twenty20 but held back from making an announcement on his possible retirement. Going into the match against Australia, the 36-year-old had strongly hinted it would be his last appearance for his country after nearly two decades of international cricket.
But Afridi, who quit as Pakistan's Test captain back in 2010 and has also already called time on his ODI career, said he still felt fit enough to carry on playing at the highest level. "I will announce it in my country. Whatever is better for the country, I will go with that," Afridi said at the post-match ceremony in Mohali when asked if he was going to retire.
"I will see my form. There is pressure, media pressure. As a player, I am fit. As a captain, I am not fit," he added after the 21-run defeat against Australia. Afridi is highest wicket-taker in the history of Twenty20 cricket with 97. And the man known as "Boom Boom" for his explosive batting, has also hit a record-breaking number of sixes in all three formats since making his international debut in October 1996.