Shahid Afridi says Pakistan lacks talented players of international standard

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has expressed disappointment at the cricket structure in his nation, claiming that there are no talented players of international standard in the country at present.

"There is no talent in Pakistan. We don't have the kind of talent that International cricket demands. I am centrally contracted so cannot talk about certain things or I will get a notice at my house tomorrow. I will tell you a lot more when I retire one day", he told BBC Urdu, as quoted by India Today.

The 36-year-old who retired from the 50-over format in 2015, still wants to play in the shortest format of the game, and hanging up his boots has not yet crossed his mind due to the lack of talent in the country.

Afridi, who captained the side in the Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup 2016 before stepping down, came under a lot of criticism for his captaincy with many former cricketers calling for him to retire. In fact, former coach Waqar Younis, said that Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup was due to Afridi, while legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir called for Afridi to bid goodbye to cricket.

"I have never been a burden on the team. When I was part of the team I played respectfully, and when I resign I will do that respectfully too," he said.

Afridi also said that he was a much better player than any of the current Pakistani players and said if they could play for the national side, so could he.

The all-rounder was dropped from Pakistan's Twenty20 squad for their tour of England, with the Men in Green scheduled to play a solitary game at Old Trafford in Manchester on 7 September. Afridi is currently representing Hampshire in the ongoing County Cricket Tournament in England.