I may quit on Champions Trophy failure: Afridi

KARACHI: Terming the ICC Champions Trophy the toughest event, Pakistan vice-captain Shahid Afridi on Thursday evening hinted at quitting the game if he did not attain success in the forthcoming eight-nation tournament starting in South Africa later this month.

‘A lot depends on my performance in the Champions Trophy and I am looking forward to this elite competition,’ Afridi told a gathering at a reception hosted in his honour by a private organisation here for his outstanding performance in the World Twenty20 in England where Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s.

‘If I am not that successful in the Champions Trophy I may consider quitting the game. But I’ll be putting in my best effort for the country and the team,’ the mighty hitter, who has represented Pakistan in 26 Tests, 281 one-dayers and 24 Twenty20 Internationals, stated.

He however, said the Champions Trophy would be the toughest of cricketing events as the best eight teams will be battling for supremacy.

A gold medal was presented to Afridi for his excellent show in the World Twenty20 where he won the man-of-the-match awards in the semi-final and the final.

Lt Gen (r) Tauqir Zia, former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), complimented Afridi for his superb performance in world event held in England.

‘Afridi without any shadow of doubt is Pakistan cricket history’s most popular player,’ he stressed.

PCB chief selector Iqbal Qasim, Salim Sweleh Samama Builder, ABAD Chairman Babar Chughtai also spoke on the occasion.

The reception was attended by former Test cricketers, sports organisers and officials.

Source: Dawn