Legendary Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has retired from international cricket after a 21-year-career.

Afridi is one of Pakistan’s most decorated players and a leg-spinning all-rounder known for his aggressive big-hitting playing style, which gave him the nickname ‘Boom Boom Afridi’. He scored the fastest century (off 37 deliveries) in the KCA Centenary Tournament held in Kenya against Sri Lanka in 1996, which remained the fastest century for 18 years until it was surpassed by Corey Anderson (36 balls) in 2014. AB de Villiers then bettered the record further with a 31-ball century against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.

Afridi also holds the record for the sixth-fastest century off 45 balls against India, which he scored in 2005.

The 36-year-old star had already quit Tests in 2010 and ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup, but was still in the Pakistan T20 team at the 2016 World T20 in India.

Although there was uncertainty about whether he would still play for his country in the shortest format, Afridi announced his retirement on Sunday, after smashing a 28-ball 54 in a Pakistan Super League match for Peshawar Zalmi in Sharjah.

‘I have said goodbye to international cricket,’ said Afridi.

‘I am playing for my fans and will continue to play this league for another two years, but it’s goodbye from international cricket.

‘Now my foundation is important for me. I have played with seriousness and in a professional way for my country.’

He became known as a leg-spin bowling all-rounder in the second half of his career and was instrumental in Pakistan’s early T20 successes, which included their 2009 World Cup victory where he took 1-20 and took his side to victory, hitting 54 off 40 balls to hand them the title against Sri Lanka.

In an illustrious career, Afridi also made the headlines for the wrong reasons. He served a one-Test and two-match ODI ban after he was caught using his foot to tamper with the pitch during a Test against England in Faisalabad in 2005. Afridi was also banned for two T20Is after he was shown on television biting the ball during an ODI against Australia at Perth in 2010.

Afridi ended his international career, having played just 27 Test matches, scoring 1 176 runs @ 36.51 and 48 wickets @ 35.60.

He played 398 ODIs with 8 064 runs 23.57, including 39 fifties and 6 centuries, while taking 395 wickets @ 34.51.

In T20Is he played 98 matches scoring 1 405 runs 97 wickets.