Speaking in an interview with former Pakistan batter Fawad Alam, Afridi said relocating to Islamabad was a difficult but necessary decision, considering the city’s better infrastructure and connectivity.

“It was a difficult choice to leave Karachi, the city where I grew up,” Afridi said.

“It is an amazing place with amazing people, but Islamabad’s infrastructure is much better.”

He said he feels disheartened every time he returns to Karachi, adding that despite years of development work, major roads such as University Road and parts of Korangi remain in poor condition.

“I expected things to improve, but I am disappointed. Construction has been going on for years, yet the roads are still in bad shape,” he said.

Afridi questioned why extensive investment had not translated into better infrastructure, though he acknowledged projects such as the Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway as positive developments.

“There has been some good work, but one or two projects are not enough for a city as large as Karachi,” he added.

Reflecting on his early cricket career, Afridi described Karachi as a city with a rich cricket culture that played a key role in his development as a player.

He recalled starting as a fast bowler before switching to spin and said club cricket in Karachi was fiercely competitive, attracting large crowds and some of the country’s leading first-class cricketers.

Afridi also revisited the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, describing it as one of the most difficult periods of his career as Pakistan’s Test captain.

He said he had tried to keep younger players away from certain individuals and had raised concerns with team management, but believed his warnings were not acted upon.

“I didn’t even know what was happening within the team. When everything came to light, I couldn’t believe it,” he said, adding that he now prefers to leave the episode in the past.

Responding to criticism that he has been overly harsh on Babar Azam, Afridi insisted his remarks have often been taken out of context.

He described Babar as one of Pakistan’s finest and most consistent batters but said top players must continue evolving and deliver performances that help the national team win matches.

“I have always praised Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan. My point is that great players continue improving, and their performances should translate into victories for Pakistan,” he said.

Afridi also revealed that he had advised his son-in-law, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, against accepting the Pakistan captaincy because of the immense pressure associated with the role.

He said captains are often held responsible for the team’s failures while juggling their own performances, team management and media scrutiny.

“I tried to discourage him, but leading Pakistan is every player’s dream. My only concern was that a captain should be given the authority to do the job properly,” he said.

Afridi urged aspiring cricketers to focus on hard work, discipline and their game rather than social media.

He encouraged young players to dream of representing Pakistan but warned that success requires dedication and perseverance, adding that excessive social media use can become a distraction and make it harder to cope with setbacks.