Shahid Afridi says Karachi's poor infrastructure forced him to leave city

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has criticised Karachi’s deteriorating infrastructure, saying poor road conditions and prolonged construction work contributed to his decision to relocate to Islamabad.

Speaking in an interview with former cricketer Fawad Alam, Afridi said leaving Karachi, where he grew up and developed his cricket career, was a difficult decision. He praised the city’s people but said Islamabad offered better infrastructure and connectivity.

Afridi questioned why Karachi’s roads remained in poor condition despite years of development work and investment. He said the city required more extensive infrastructure improvements because of its size and population.

He acknowledged some projects, including the Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway, as positive developments but said one or two projects were not enough to address Karachi’s infrastructure needs.

Reflecting on his early cricketing years, Afridi said Karachi had a strong cricket culture, with competitive club cricket and significant public interest in local matches.

He also discussed his career, the 2010 spot-fixing controversy, criticism of Babar Azam and his advice to young cricketers. Afridi urged aspiring players to focus on cricket, hard work and discipline rather than social media.