‘It was my goal to be back in Pakistan team, says Shahid Afridi

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi insists that he has put the controversy that led to his temporary retirement behind him and is now focused on playing for his country.

Afridi had announced his ‘conditional’ retirement from international cricket in May after being stripped of the ODI captaincy saying that he would return only if there were changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management.

The 31-year-old came out of retirement after Zaka Ashraf replaced Ijaz Butt as the PCB chairman

“Whatever has happened, it is time to play cricket. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. It is all over and I am here to play cricket now,” the Daily Times quoted Afridi, as saying. 

“I missed playing for Pakistan, definitely. Playing for Pakistan is my first priority. I just missed two tours, but Alhamdulillah, I am back in the team. I really missed playing cricket for my country. It was my goal to be back in the team,” he added.

Afridi has been recalled to the Pakistan squad for the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, which starts here on Friday.