Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has announced that he will retire from ODIs after the end of the upcoming World Cup in India.

On Wednesday, September 27, Afghanistan national cricket team's 24-year-old right-arm pacer Naveen-ul-Haq announced his surprise retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket. He is expected to bid farewell to the 50-over format of cricket at the end of the 2023 World Cup.

Naveen along with his national team-mates recently arrived in India to take part in the ODI extravaganza. The young pacer missed the recently concluded Asian Cup due to injury. In fact, he was named to the World Cup squad just days before the team's departure. It is also worth mentioning that the event will mark his return to one-day internationals after a break of more than two years.

Naveen, who made his international debut in 2016, has represented Afghanistan in seven ODIs, taking 14 wickets at an average of 25.42.

While he continues to be a key player for the country in T20Is - he has played 27 matches in the format - Naveen has not played an ODI since 2021. That also prompted him to take a break from the 50-over format in 2022 so he could prepare "mentally and physically" for last year's T20 World Cup.

Apart from international games, Naveen is also a regular fixture in T20 leagues across the world including IPL, LPL, BBL and PSL.

Earlier this month, Naveen was named in Afghanistan's 15-man squad for the World Cup, marking the first time he was included in the ODI squad in more than two years. He is expected to be part of their pace attack along with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.

Naveen, 24, said in a message on social media that retiring was not an "easy decision" but one he made to "extend my playing career".

“It was an absolute honor to represent my country. I would like to announce my retirement from the ODI format at the end of this World Cup and will continue to wear this blue jersey in T20 cricket. It wasn't an easy decision for my country." But in order to prolong my playing career, I had to make this difficult decision. I would like to thank @afghanistancricketboard and all my fans for their support and unwavering love,” he posted on his official Instagram account.

Afghanistan will begin their World Cup campaign against Bangladesh in Dharamsala on October 7.