In a poignant decision, Pakistan Test batter Asad Shafiq has bid farewell to all forms of cricket, citing a wane in his passion for the game. The 37-year-old, who made the announcement after leading Karachi Whites to victory in the National T20 Championship, expressed,

“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.”

As part of his post-retirement plans, Asad confirmed his imminent signing of a contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board to become a paid national selector.

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

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, he asserted that working as a national selector posed an exciting challenge, and he intended to stay connected with the game.

Asad played a pivotal role in shaping the backbone of Pakistan’s Test batting line-up from 2010 to 2020, amassing an impressive record of 4660 runs in 77 games at an average of 38.19, including 12 centuries and 27 fifties. Alongside Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, and Misbah ul Haq, he formed the core of Pakistan’s Test batting.

Post the 2010 spot-fixing scandal in England, Asad emerged as a symbol of the pristine image of Pakistan cricket—clean, non-controversial, and media-shy throughout his career. He emphasized that he had never succumbed to external pressures in making decisions during his international cricket journey, always opting for what he believed was best.

Reflecting on his post-2020 phase, Asad admitted,

“After being dropped in 2020, I kept on playing domestic cricket for three years, yes, in the hope of getting another crack at the Pakistan team. 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 the time to retire instead of people telling me to step down.”

Proud of his role in the team under Misbah ul Haq, Asad highlighted the challenging times post the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

“After the spot-fixing scandal in 2010, it was a very difficult time for Pakistan cricket, and I am happy I was part of that process where we won back the confidence of the people in our team.”

In an intriguing revelation, Asad indirectly acknowledged the possibility of bias in player selection within Pakistan cricket. When questioned about regional disparities, particularly concerning players from Karachi, he interestingly refrained from directly dismissing the suggestion, adding a layer of contemplation to the conversation about cricketing decisions in the country.