Karachi: Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi, who has not played a Test since 2006, is planning to retire from the longer version of the game along with fellow all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. Sources said both the players would be meeting Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt next week to convey their decision.
"They are not interested in playing Test matches any longer and just want to concentrate on extending their international careers in the one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches," a source said. Both Afridi and Razzaq last played a Test match in 2006.
He pointed out that both the players were not interested in touring England for the Test matches against Australia and England because they wanted to spend more time with their families. "Afridi and Razzaq feel that there is too much cricket being played these days and they are not in a condition to take part in this non-stop calendar of events.
Which is why they have decided to step down from Tests and allow the selectors to pick younger players," another source added. The PCB and its national selectors are due to meet next week to finalise the squads for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the Test tour to England.
Sources said that Afridi and Razzaq were keen on playing the Asia Cup and one-dayers and Twenty20 matches in England and are also targetting the 2011 World Cup. "They want to continue their careers in these short forms of the game," one source added.
Pakistan are due to tour England from last week of June to play two tests against Australia and four against England. With Afridi and Razzaq out of contention and other senior players like Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik banned, the selectors are expected to announce several new faces in the touring squad next week.
"They are not interested in playing Test matches any longer and just want to concentrate on extending their international careers in the one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches," a source said. Both Afridi and Razzaq last played a Test match in 2006.
He pointed out that both the players were not interested in touring England for the Test matches against Australia and England because they wanted to spend more time with their families. "Afridi and Razzaq feel that there is too much cricket being played these days and they are not in a condition to take part in this non-stop calendar of events.
Which is why they have decided to step down from Tests and allow the selectors to pick younger players," another source added. The PCB and its national selectors are due to meet next week to finalise the squads for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the Test tour to England.
Sources said that Afridi and Razzaq were keen on playing the Asia Cup and one-dayers and Twenty20 matches in England and are also targetting the 2011 World Cup. "They want to continue their careers in these short forms of the game," one source added.
Pakistan are due to tour England from last week of June to play two tests against Australia and four against England. With Afridi and Razzaq out of contention and other senior players like Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik banned, the selectors are expected to announce several new faces in the touring squad next week.
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