Former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Khan Afridi revealed that he approached his batting during a match against Sri Lanka in Kenya without overthinking it.

“If I had played with more caution, I might never have set the record I did,” he said during a session at the International Urdu Conference in Karachi on Saturday

Afridi shared insights from his cricket journey. He noted that he played a lot of tape-ball cricket in the streets of Karachi, emphasising that his entire cricket career unfolded in the city.

He also expressed his admiration for the Urdu-speaking community, stating that they have a great appreciation for literature. He praised people for their professionalism and noted their exceptional dressing sense. “Today, I will enjoy some casual chats with my friends from Karachi,” he added.

The former cricketer stated: “While everyone knows how I appear from the outside, only the Almighty knows what I am truly like on the inside.”

He reflected on his time as captain, emphasising that he always aimed to lead inclusively. He noted that during that period, the three players involved in the spot-fixing scandal were among his match-winners. “I could have removed them from the team, but fate caught them,” he said.

Afridi also addressed the issue of transparency in cricket, asserting that there should be no secrecy in how the game is played. “Why should we do things in hiding? This should be done openly,” he said and highlighted the importance of integrity in the sport.