Are Shahid Afridi's playing days over?

[Savak]

I think his knee is shot now, he has been battling his knee problem for the last 2 years and it is shocking that he still has to take pain killers to play and it hasn't recovered. I think this just might be that final career ending injury after all. As it is, you can his bowling has been seriously hampered and I know from a confirmed source that he has been battling a serious back problem for the last decade.

If he plays as a pure batsman his inconsistency will catch up with him and he will become just another Asif Ali. Maybe time for him to truly pack it in?

 

[Hasan123]

Yes they are.

 

[pakistani pride]

They were over 5 years ago but it seems he has little else to do.

 

[moghul]

Yes, has been a useless, but not jobless cricketer for many years now.

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

Yes, has been a useless, but not jobless cricketer for many years now.

helped CV to winBPL .
won single-handedly few games
was economical whole tournament.

 

[hitthestump]

They were over 5 years ago but it seems he has little else to do.

Yep. Don't see why Afridi would deviate from Pakistani tradition of hanging on way longer than you ought to. If anything i imagine a guy like him will be one of the worst hangers on of all time. Expect to see him for a few more years imo.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shahid Afridi "these days my bowling is my main weapon. My batting well that fires once in a blue moon" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSL2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSL2019</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1099630902785830912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Hitman]

He is being paid by the leagues and he does his duty. If people are willing to pay him, I don't see any reason why has to opt out himself.

Anyways this is not international cricket. He is a crowed puller. I don't mind seeing him play for a couple of more years in league cricket.

 

[ShahidNaziir]

Boom Boom scoring 80+ at 200 SR. Should he be recalled?

I couldn't have asked for a better Sunday, with Boom Boom coming in around the 8th over in GT20 match. Not one false shot, only the classic boom boom hoiks. And I must say, his running between the wickets, his farming the strike as wickets around him tumbled, and managing his side to over 200.
Where are such players in the current ODI or T20I line-up in Pakistan?
Really sad state of affairs for Pak, I must admit

 

[ShahidNaziir]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shahid Afridi "these days my bowling is my main weapon. My batting well that fires once in a blue moon" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSL2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSL2019</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1099630902785830912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Saj/ Mods - You know Lala is a motor mouth. Don't pay too much credence to his words. Look at how he played today.

 

[Smbhayi]

Saj/ Mods - You know Lala is a motor mouth. Don't pay too much credence to his words. Look at how he played today.

Today is a bluemoon day

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">Sher abi zinda hai&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816;&#55357;&#56832; <a href="https://t.co/9OfveimgSa">https://t.co/9OfveimgSa</a></p>— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1155684886721781761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[light]

That was a great knock to watch live at the stadium! Loved the way he went ham on the bowlers

 

[Chokli]

I couldn't have asked for a better Sunday, with Boom Boom coming in around the 8th over in GT20 match. Not one false shot, only the classic boom boom hoiks. And I must say, his running between the wickets, his farming the strike as wickets around him tumbled, and managing his side to over 200.
Where are such players in the current ODI or T20I line-up in Pakistan?
Really sad state of affairs for Pak, I must admit

Jeez, what is wrong with our people.

He's 44 years old and has nothing left to offer in International Cricket.

These lame T20 leagues are completely different than International Cricket

 

[Mercurial]

There will never be another Shahid Afridi, a true entertainer, and a match-winner.

 

[Mamoon]

Even today he is comfortably better than Shadab.

 

[Pakhs]

Even today he is comfortably better than Shadab.

He once was but that was a decade ago minimum.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Even today he is comfortably better than Shadab.

who isnt, he always bowls a few bad ones, needs to fix up

 

[DeadBall]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">Sher abi zinda hai&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816;&#55357;&#56832; <a href="https://t.co/9OfveimgSa">https://t.co/9OfveimgSa</a></p>— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1155684886721781761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What the....

 

[Mueez]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">Sher abi zinda hai&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816;&#55357;&#56832; <a href="https://t.co/9OfveimgSa">https://t.co/9OfveimgSa</a></p>— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1155684886721781761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Does Lala want to make a comeback...?

 

[MenInG]

Continues to surprise us - 35* off 17 at the moment

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">244 sixes now for Shahid Afridi in the Twenty over format <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSL5?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSL5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/EY5TZxqbNW">pic.twitter.com/EY5TZxqbNW</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1235989153277452288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Always felt he retired too early from the T20 format. It's too late now but could have played a few more years in the T20 format. Still one of the better hitters in the country against both spin and pace.

It's not only about the boundaries but how he gets those cheeky shots out and still manages to find the gap for those quick two's or three's.

 

[Waleed93]

A T20 GOAT. Legend.

 

[Sami92]

Anybody can say anything but for me Shahid Afridi is a good legspinner and a very handy hitter at 8.

I still think that when he decides to call time on his playing career, his last professional match should be in the jersey of Pakistan and for Pakistan. In that way, he may get to 100 T20I wickets (currently has 98 T20I wickets). He has played 398 ODIs (5th on the list of highest number of ODI matches played) and that's not a small feat.

 

[sweep_shot]

Afridi is a LOI legend. It is remarkable that he is still going strong (despite being over 40).

 

[AdamM97]

Doesn’t matter if Afridi has lost it.

Afridi is arguably the most well-known Pakistan cricketer after Imran Khan and Wasim Akram.

Having Afridi play in PSL helps the league get more international exposure. He should play in the PSL at least 3 more years.

 

[Saj]

Interviewed Shahid Afridi recently. An in-depth interview about his career and future plans.

He spoke very openly and honestly.

Coming soon...…..

 

[Slim]

LOI legend. T20 GOAT. Could have played for couple of more years instead of us relying on china ka third grade afridi aka Asif Ali.

 

[Thunderstorm]

And PCB was not willing to give him a farewell international match or two to complete his 100 T20 wickets and 400 ODI wickets, for the likes of Asif Ali and Shadab Khan when hacks like Hafeez and Shoaib Malik of almost same age, are in the contention to be considered for the World T20 2020.

 

[Hawkeye]

Afridi as a T20 package is still better than:

1. Malik
2. Imad Wasim
3. Anwar Ali
4. Nawaz
5. Amad Butt
6. Faheem

At least he can still hit a few (mostly spinners), plus bowls handy leg spin.

On the whole, they're all quite mediocre, including Afridi, but Afridi is the least mediocre.

 

[Zaz]

Good to see he actually can still play a little and not taking a free ride

 

[Nadeemp]

i dont think he can play at international level.

 

[Forum363]

Afridi as a T20 package is still better than:

1. Malik
2. Imad Wasim
3. Anwar Ali
4. Nawaz
5. Amad Butt
6. Faheem

At least he can still hit a few (mostly spinners), plus bowls handy leg spin.

On the whole, they're all quite mediocre, including Afridi, but Afridi is the least mediocre.

Yes, Afridi is better than one of the top ranked t20 bowlers in the world...

Oh but you believe past form or results don’t matter as much as this PSL. Well Imad has more runs than Afridi, has won his team games with the bat and has the best economy rate this PSL.

Imad is pretty mediocre but he’s the best all-rounder we have had for the last few years.

 

[QalandarFan]

He is being paid by the leagues and he does his duty. If people are willing to pay him, I don't see any reason why has to opt out himself.

Anyways this is not international cricket. He is a crowed puller. I don't mind seeing him play for a couple of more years in league cricket.

Thank you, I don't get what peoples problem on here with him playing is. He's a superstar a legend of Pakistan Cricket if he wants to play in the PSL then he's going to play in the PSL.

 

[iniqbal223]

Why not Javed Miandad or Imran Khan as well? Lets see whether they can still play..

We are the worst cricket fans ever with no logic, no vision whatsoever, just go with the flow, and man of the moment. Had SA failed today we were criticizing him that he player 5 years too many.. This is the reason dumbo like UA / Shehzad / Maliks/Hafeezs keep coming back.. We are ready to give 100 chances to TTf, but do not have patience to give 5 consecutive chances to new comer..Lets get our senses correct, and enjoy the team winning..

 

[style_guru]

Lala was one of the last players from pak who had that x factor, which the Pak players used to carry in yesteryear's. Players like him make the opposition anxious till they are out in the middle, no matter what the match situation is. Sadly, there's no one that carries the same aura in the present set up.

I know he's ageing fast, but would love to see him play for a few more years, just for the sake of the entertainment he provides.