KARACHI: Former Test pace bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has expressed his surprise over Shahid Afridi hinting at continuing to play Twenty20 Internationals after the forthcoming World T20.

“Afridi has passed his prime and hardly performed up to the mark in the Pakistan Super League,” Sarfraz said in an interview on Wednesday. “He took just ten wickets in the PSL and scored 87 runs which shows his decline.”

Afridi, Sarfraz insisted, should stick to his decision of leaving the international arena after the World T20.

Sarfraz also disagreed to Afridi’s view that there was no real talent coming up in Pakistan.

“Pakistan has got a lot of [cricketing] talent and there is a need to give them exposure in international cricket,” he remarked.

“Pakistan has a number of talented bowlers who are better than Afridi, and can replace him. [Leg-spinner] Yasir Shah will be returning to international cricket next month to fill the gap [in case of Afridi’s retirement],” Sarfraz said.

Meanwhile, former opener Ramiz Raja said Afridi should not be confused about his decision to retire after the World T20.

“Quitting international cricket is not an easy decision for any player and Afridi should show sportsman spirit in making an appropriate call [on his T20 International career],” Ramiz stated.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2016