Sunday 19 February 2017 23:07, UK
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has announced his retirement from international cricket.
The 36-year-old, nicknamed 'Boom Boom', had already quit Test cricket in 2010 and retired from one-day internationals in 2015 while he resigned the captaincy of Pakistan's Twenty20 side last year.
He had considered continuing as a player in the shortest format of the game but announced on Sunday that he was calling a halt to an illustrious and occasionally controversial 21-year international career.
"I have said goodbye to international cricket," said Afridi after smashing a 28-ball 54 in a Pakistan Super League match for Peshawar Zalmi in Sharjah.
"I am playing for my fans and will continue to play this league for another two years but it's goodbye from international cricket.
"Now my foundation is important for me. I have played with seriousness and in a professional way for my country."
A big-hitting batsman and very effective leg-spin bowler, Afridi was a key member of the Pakistan side who won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.
Afridi made his one-day debut for Pakistan back in 1996 and he has played in 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 98 T20 internationals.
A fan favourite throughout his career, Afridi hit a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in just his second ODI, a record which stood for 17 years.
He became known as a bowling all-rounder in the second half of his career and has taken well over 500 wickets in international cricket.
