Shahid Afridi, one of the most enigmatic cricketers in the history of the game, received a Guard of Honour during the Hurricane Relief T20 fund-raiser, as he took to the field for an international match for the final time at the Lord’s on Thursday (31 May).
Former Pakistan skipper Afridi led a star-studded ICC World XI against the T20 World Champions West Indies in a fundraising match in the absence of injured Eoin Morgan at the iconic Lord’s.
However, Afridi has already taken retirement from the international cricket, but went down at the Iconic stadium for one last time to lead World XI side in a fundraising T20 match, and received the guard of honor from his ICC World XI teammates as he said goodbye to international cricket at Lord’s.
The match organized in a bid to help raise funds for the refurbishment of five cricket stadiums in the West Indies damaged by hurricanes.
During the match, Afridi was asked by former England captain Nasser Hussain about his possible return, he replied, “No more comebacks. You see my situation and thank god my overs are finished. I am privileged to play in the home of cricket.”
While the all-rounder said at the start of the match, “It’s wonderful for me to be part of the game for a noble cause. All are keen and focussed to play this game. If you look at Windies, they are World Champions; it will be a good game. I’m carrying injury for last two months. After PSL, I didn’t bowl, didn’t bat.”
Meanwhile, World XI side suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of West Indies, as the Caribbeans displayed a tremendous performance and won the game by 72 runs at Lord’s on Thursday.
Afiri will also be making a personal donation of USD 20,000 on behalf of the Shahid Afridi Foundation for the Hurricane victims in the Caribbean.
After the match, he wrote on his official Twitter handle, “Thank you ICC for providing me the opportunity of contributing to #CricketRelief cause. It was a real honor for me and a memory I'll cherish for long. On behalf of my Foundation, I'm making a donation $20000 for the Hurricane victims in the Caribbean.”
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A guard of honour for Boom Boom @SAfridiOfficial in his final international match! #CricketRelief pic.twitter.com/pjsHPM8zgZ
— ICC (@ICC) May 31, 2018
???? @SAfridiOfficial received a guard of honour by his @ICC World XI team-mates as he took to the field for an international match for the final time.#CricketRelief#LoveLords pic.twitter.com/ZOS4MI0MKm
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) May 31, 2018
11,196 runs.
— ICC (@ICC) May 31, 2018
541 wickets.
1 fantastic international career.
Thank you @SAfridiOfficial for all of the memories! ????#CricketRelief pic.twitter.com/nFEpJPJdkb
Thank you ICC for providing me the opportunity of contributing to #CricketRelief cause. It was a real honour for me and a memory I'll cherish for long. On behalf of my Foundation I'm making a donation 20000$ for the Hurricane victims in Caribbean. #HopeNotOut
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 31, 2018