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NEWS Afridi reverses retirement decision27th Apr 2006 22.39 IST By Agencies All rounder Shahid Khan Afridi today withdrew his decision of temporary retirement from Test cricket, Pakistan Cricket Board said today. "I talked to Shahid Afridi last evening and convinced him that he was a useful cricketer in both the forms of the game and Pakistan needed him," PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said in Lahore.
Afridi had shocked the world two weeks ago by announcing his retirement from the longer version of the game to concentrate on next year's World Cup, saying too much cricket was affecting his performance. The 26-year-old, though currently in the city, was not available for comments. Shaharyar said Afridi was under tremendous pressure during last few months and eventually succumbed during the Sri Lanka series. "Basically he was under pressure from the spectators who wanted him to perform in every match. I mean to say each time he used to walk onto the pitch to bat, the spectators were yelling and shouting while anticipating some big hitting. But when he used to get out cheaply or very early, the stadiums used to get empty and people at times also booed him," the PCB Chief said. Shaharyar insisted that Afridi's reversal of retirement should bury all speculations. "All sorts of speculations were in the air regarding his retirement decision that must now be buried. Afridi has made 4,824 runs and taken 184 wickets in 222 appearances in one-day internationals. In 24 Tests, Afridi has scored 1,436 runs with three of his last five centuries coming in his last 11 Test innings. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq welcomed Afridi's decisions. "I always maintained that it was an emotional decision. He is a good cricketer in both the forms of the game. Off the field, he is an inspiring character and the team needs him. "I am glad that he has made himself available without any unnecessary delays," Inzamam said. Afridi's retirement decision because of too much cricket was criticised by International Cricket Council President Ehsan Mani, who during a daylong visit of Lahore, had said the all rounder was giving lame excuses. "If Afridi is complaining of too much cricket, then he should be resting instead of playing cricket for Ireland and Lashings this summer," Mani told reporters. Shaharyar Khan had also warned Afridi that if he did not reverse his decision, his central contract, that renews in a couple of months, could be affected. Afridi is in Category A of the central contract and draws a monthly salary of Rs 250,000 besides match fee, share from endorsements and other perks. Also View Team Page: Pakistan Team Page: England | LIVE CRICKET COVERAGE NEWS ~ Gilchrist has no plans to retire after World Cup ~ Ganguly's new batting approach may cost him sixer record ~ India 'squash the Orange' in World Cup warm-up game ~ Symonds gets a new hairdo for World Cup ~ Dhoni readies himself for stand-up act at World Cup (more in NEWS) FACE-TO-FACE ~ 500-mark a possibility in World Cup: Hayden ~ Minnows add charm to World Cup: Dravid (more in FACE-TO-FACE) COLUMNS ~ Will Sri Lanka replicate 1996 World Cup success? (more in COLUMNS) OFF-THE-FIELD ~ Ganguly again the darling of corporate world ~ Ganguly roped in as brand ambassador of Puma (more in OFF-THE-FIELD) PLAYERS Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble (more PLAYERS) TEAMS India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya, Holland | 
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