I will not take a u-turn: Afridi

KARACHI: Pakistan former skipper Shahid Afridi said that he would never go back on his word and he would not reverse his retirement decision even after the legal battle against the board has ended in an out-of-court settlement. 

“What I had said earlier stays and I would not backtrack on my words and my decision. Retiring from international cricket does not mean that I would not play cricket. County cricket is also a cricket for me,” Afridi told reporters here at Karachi Gymkhana on Saturday.

He was attending a welfare organization - ‘Make a Wish’ program on Saturday.

Afridi had retired from international cricket and had also vowed not to play cricket under the present Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) set up.

After reaching an agreement with the board, where Afridi was reissued his NOC to play cricket for Hampshire county, while Afridi agreed and later appeared before PCB’s disciplinary committee and prematurely ended his legal battle against the board, it was speculated that Afridi might take a U-Turn as did his other colleagues did in the past.

The most recent case is of prolific middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who retired from international cricket last year but ironically he came out of it in the same year.

However, the flamboyant all-rounder categorically rubbished such speculations. “I will stand firm on my words,” said Afridi.

The agreement between the skipper and the board brought an end to a controversy that began during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies.

During the one-day series in the Caribbean, Afridi had a falling out with the coach Waqar Younis and he made his feelings public on his return to Pakistan.

The PCB responded by stripping Afridi of the ODI captaincy after which the all-rounder pulled out of the trip to Ireland and retired.

Meanwhile, Afridi said that he has accepted the decision of the board and he would not be to appealing against the fine imposed on him.

“PCB disciplinary committee did what it thought right and I would not appeal against the fine they imposed on me,” he said.

Afridi was fined Rs 4.5 million by the board for breaching its code of conduct.

Afridi also said that if he had time in his schedule to play in domestic cricket than he would certainly feature in the local event.

Afridi would be leaving for England on June 22 to feature in Hampshire county.