Twitter Reaction: Shahid Afridi hints at retirement after the Australia game

Shahid Afridi gave an unexpected hint about his future stating that Pakistan’s next fixture against Australia on 26th March will probably be his last international appearance. He made this statement in the post-match ceremony while speaking to presenter Ramiz Raja after the New Zealand game where the Men in Green’s suffered their second consecutive loss on the World T20.

Shahid Afridi said “First I want to congratulate NZ. One point it looked like they might touch 200 but our bowlers pulled it back. It looked like a chaseable total. We didn’t play well after first six overs. Played a lot of dot balls. Shehzad and Sharjeel started well but we couldn’t play well against the spinners. We keep repeating mistakes and in this format you can’t do that. It might be the last game of my career against Australia. Let’s see how things go.”

The statement is off course not surprising. Few days back it was reported that Afridi will not be retained as the skipper of the side. The 36 year old has been facing a lot of ire from the fans, cricket experts and journalists back in their country for his captaincy tactics, his batting form and comments in the press conferences.

The Pakistan cricket team also is undergoing a crisis sort of situation. It is reported that there is discontent in the Pakistan Cricket Board and the whole selection panel will be replaced after the World T20 regardless of the team’s performance. The Head Coach Waqar Younis’s coaching stint, which ends in the June this year, is also not expected to be extended.

'Next match, I might be playing my last game of my career' – Shahid Afridi – during the presentation ceremony #NZvPAK #WT20

— Sarvesh Sawant (@iSarvesh_S) March 22, 2016

Shahid Afridi's whatsapp status :

"Can't retire, Announcements only."#PAKvNZ

— Kartik (@KartikBeniwal) March 22, 2016

https://twitter.com/Sheikh_Says/status/712348934245621760

https://twitter.com/MeherFatima7/status/712348845687119877

"Shahid Afridi is retiring" is the second most heard sentence of my life after "I like you but as a friend" ??

— Aqib Ali (@m_aqib) March 22, 2016

Waqar on Afridi: "He has of course decided to finish playing cricket for #Pak" https://t.co/AUCqTeV9bU

— Barny Read (@BarnabyRead) March 22, 2016

https://twitter.com/iHamidRaza/status/712348775805751297

Dear @SAfridiOfficial ,
You tried your best today,catch,wickets,runs,but your team,Board, deliberately let you down,
But still we love you

— Saqib Musvi (@saqibmusvi) March 22, 2016

Shahid Afridi retires to make a come back to again retire. The cycle continues #ThankYouAfridi

— Gajender (@gajender00) March 22, 2016

@SAfridiOfficial a fan from india from more than a decade. Hard to believe the end of career is around the corner. I just cant bear this.

— Idris AIM (@IdrisAslam55) March 22, 2016

When the captain #ShahidAfridi place in the side is not confirmed how can we expect good results? #PAKvNZ #WT20

— mujahid Islam (@scholarali) March 22, 2016

For one last time lets have it for this Legend SHAHID AFRIDI.Not a big fan but after the 2011 SF and today I came to knew him true passion??

— ibbi. (@misbahfied22) March 22, 2016

Similarity between Shahid Afridi nd Rajdeep
One keeps announcing retirement from Cricket and other from Twitter@SirJadeja #NZvsPAK #PAKvNZ

— Mangesh Mehenge (@Mangesh_mv) March 22, 2016

For one last time lets have it for this Legend SHAHID AFRIDI.Not a big fan but after the 2011 SF and today I came to knew him true passion??

— ibbi. (@misbahfied22) March 22, 2016

Lala!! Tears were really prominent in ur eyes!! ? U know what? U r not alone. I m crying with u 2? But plz don't take retirement. V need u?

— Sadia Altaf ✌ (@Miss_Saadi10) March 22, 2016

Disgusts me how a guy who has served his country for over 2 decades is being blamed for the team's shit performances @SAfridiOfficial

— Kaiser (@62609991M) March 22, 2016

What more bad can you see than Politics interfering in Cricket. We know Shahid Afridi is forced to retire. PCB & fans should support him.

— Ayush Verma (@ayushexploring) March 22, 2016

Eyes full of tears @SAfridiOfficial ur career has been exploited by politics. Bt u all time fave. Always support u n respect legend#PAKvNZ

— Afridian (@Dino_Tricky) March 22, 2016