Goodbye Shahid Afridi: Lala and the unwavering support of fans

Pakistan’s eternal Peter Pan has retired from franchise cricket… yet another afterthought.

Pakistan is currently grappling with life’s harsh realities. However, everything is transitory, nothing is permanent, and Shahid Afridi’s cricket career is no exception. Afridi posted a farewell post and video earlier this week, amid the Pakistan Super League (PSL). “Goodbye, PSL; my body is in excruciating pain.”

His exit has been gradual, with numerous retirements and U-turns. He has periodically lightened his load also dragged his feet when leaving the field throughout his career, including Tests, ODIs, T20s, and now franchise cricket. He did overstay his welcome, but no one complained. Afridi kept us entertained.

Afridi did not have a perfect last game.

First, he didn’t get a chance to hit his signature down-on-knees six. He wasn’t needed to bat because he was pushed down the order. He managed a couple of game-changing dismissals with those fastish leg-breaks, but Afridi was never about wickets. That is, other people’s doors; his own could be hilarious. He even called for a runner in a game against Bangladesh years after removing that provision, driving spectators insane.

For the die-hards, he did deliver a magical frame in his final game, a reminder of his many triumphs since his debut in 1996.

He struck the Afridi pose after a direct hit run out from wide mid-on – arms and feet spread big apart, index fingers pointed to the skies to make the silhouette sharper, angelic smile on the face, and back arched like a bow.

There he was, like a huge neon-lit ‘X,’ illuminating the central square for one last time. Afridi highlighted his status as international cricket’s original X-factor just before leaving the stage for good.

Following the game, Afridi was questioned about the secret to his eternal youth. He’d say it was the love of the fans that kept him going as he massaged his lower back and massaged those fragile L1 and L5.