Asghar Afghan to retire from all formats after Afghanistan-Namibia T20 World Cup clash

The 33-year-old has informed the Afghanistan Cricket Board of his decision to call time on his career part of the way through the campaign

Afghanistan have announced Asghar Afghan, the country's second most-experience player, will retire from all formats after the men's T20 World Cup clash against Namibia.

The former captain, who has led the team in 115 of his 194 outings, has played in both Super 12s matches against Scotland and Pakistan.

The ACB "welcomes and respects" the decision and "expresses gratitudes for his services to the country" in a statement confirming the move.

Asghar calls time on an international career spanning 12 years during which he has been present for many of the key junctures in Afghanistan's cricketing assent.

@ACBofficials welcomes and respects his decision, expresses gratitudes for his services to the country. It will take a lot of hard work for young Afghan cricketers to fill his shoes.
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— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 30, 2021

He has featured at seven World Cups, including their inaugural appearance in 2010, and captained the team in their debut Test match against India in 2018.

Should he appear against Namibia in Abu Dhabi it will be his 75th T20I appearance, to go along with six Tests and 114 ODI outings.

While shepherding Afghanistan through the international ranks Asghar had two spells as skipper. 

Unceremoniously dumped as the leader on the eve of the 50-over World Cup, he was reinstated across all formats before the turn of the year, a second tenure that lasted until May 2021.

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