Shahid Afridi plans to join politics to serve his country

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has hinted at walking on Imran Khan’s footsteps post retirement. Afridi said that he would like to join politics to serve the country.

In an interview with BBC Urdu, Afridi also said that he has no plans to make a comeback to ODI cricket. He retired from the format at the 50-over World Cup in 2015. “I wish to continue playing limited-over cricket, whether it is at a national or domestic level or leagues, I think I am fit for the game,” he said.

“I wish to enter politics, however, some well-wishers have advised me against it. In my eyes, a politician is a servant of the people and he should serve people,” Afridi said.

Afridi commented that a lot of people have advised him not to join politics, but he believes that, it is the way to serve the people and serve his country. The 36-year-old also said, that he is currently involved in a lot of charity work, and this allows him to give something back to the society. He also said that the Shahid Afridi foundation is keen to establish a school for the less privileged.

Afridi, who is currently playing for Hampshire in the NatWest T20 Blast also questioned the format of the league which is underway in England. He believes the format should be short and ordered, not like playing a one-day game, a T20 match followed with a 4-day match and so on.

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“I’ve already talked to a few officials, that we should organise it and finish it in a month. It’s not easy playing one game then, a four-day game then another T20, but as a professional cricketer, you can adjust yourself,” he explained.

Apart from Afridi, other cricketers like Jos Buttler of England and Darren Sammy, who led West Indies to two World T20 titles has also questioned the effectiveness of the county structure.