Asad Shafiq announces retirement from all forms of cricket

TTS Report

Right-handed middle-order batter Asad Shafiq announced his retirement from all forms of cricket yesterday after he led Karachi Whites to their maiden National T20 Cup title.

The Karachi Whites skipper was given a guard of honour by his teammates after defeating Abbottabad in the final of the National T20 Cup. Asad Shafiq announced his decision during the press conference after the National T20 Cup final citing the ‘lack of passion’ as a major factor.

“I am not feeling the same excitement and passion playing cricket and neither do I have the same fitness levels required for international cricket. Which is why I have decided to say goodbye to all cricket,” said Asad Shafiq.

However, he confirmed that he will feature in three games for SNGPL in the upcoming Patrons Trophy. Upon being asked about joining Wahab Riaz’s selection committee as a consultant, he affirmed that the board had contacted him.

“I have got the contract from the board and I am looking at it and hopefully it will be processed soon,’ he added.

Shafiq also shed light on the fact that he made the decision to hang up his boots before the ongoing domestic season.

“After being dropped in 2020 I kept on playing domestic cricket for three years in the hope of getting another crack at the Pakistan team,” said the right-hander.

“But before the start of this season, I had decided this would be my last season because I felt that closing in on 38 years of age this was time to retire instead of people telling me to step down.”

Asad Shafiq has represented Pakistan in 77 Test matches from 2010 to 2020 and amassed 4660 runs at an average of 38.19, scoring 12 centuries and 27 half-centuries.

He also played 60 ODIs and 10 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring over 1500 runs.

Meanwhile, he scored over 12,000 runs in 191 First-Class matches, 5,784 runs in 162 List A matches and 2702 runs in 128 T20 games.