Just a couple days back, England all-rounder Ben Stokes announced his retirement from ODI cricket. He said that he is now tired of playing cricket continuously and would like to focus only in two formats. With this, Trent Boult has also withdrawn his name from the central contract shortly before. He also believed that he is no longer able to bear the workload. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) itself confirmed Boult’s withdrawal from the central contract.
Meanwhile, recently Pakistan captain Babar Azam was asked a question on what his thinking is about retiring from one format. Azam held a press conference before the team departed for Netherlands tour.
In the press conference, someone asked him whether Pakistan’s star players like him, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan are thinking of retiring from any one format. In reply to which he said that that handling the workload very much depends on a player’s fitness.
He then made a humorous remark and asked the same journalist whether he thinks they have gotten old is the reason why he asked the question.
“It depends on your fitness. The kind of fitness we have, I don’t think we should limit ourselves to two formats. Aapko kya lagta hai main budha ho gaya hu? ya hum budhe ho gaye hai?” said Babar Azam.
He further added that when the workload on a player increases, then retirement is not the solution, but instead players need to improve their fitness.
Babar Azam is the backbone of Pakistan team. Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi have also performed brilliantly in the last few years. Babar even called all the 11 players as the trump card and that he trusts everyone.
Let us remind you, the Pakistan is currently preparing for the next task in hand, the Netherlands tour. The Men in Green will take on the Dutchs from the 16th of August in a 3 match ODI with the next 2 matches scheduled on 18th and 21st August.
After that, the will participate in the Asia Cup 2022 to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They play against India in their opening match of the Asia Cup 2022.