All-rounder Shahid Afridi backed out of Afghan Twenty20 league on Friday citing personal reasons.
He thanked the Afghan government, Afghan Cricket Board officials and the Speenghar Tigers — the team he was expected to play for — for extending an invitation to him. “But I have some very urgent family issue come up,” Afridi said in a tweet.
“I look forward to come in the future and support the great initiative. I support bridging relations via cricket for peace to unite nations,” he added.
Afridi had announced his participation in the Afghanistan Shpageeza Cricket League last month.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier announced it would not issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Pakistani players wanting to play the league, but Afridi does not require an NOC since he has retired.