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Shahid Afridi may be making his way from the cricket pitch to the classroom: the 44-year-old recently said he has decided to enrol at a local university.

The cricketer made the 'announcement' on March 22 while delivering a speech at a brand ambassador ceremony to faculty and students at the Salim Habib University in Karachi.

He has been name the brand ambassador for Salim Habib University, formerly known as the Barrett Hodgson University. The university is run by a foundation established by Dr M S Habib, creator and founder of pharmaceutical giant Barrett Hodgson Pakistan.

“I’ve taken admission here,” said Afridi. “I’d never seen a university before coming here. Cricket was my whole life. I’ve taken admission here and I will study with you all, which is really a matter of pride for me.” Of course, he has to pass the admission test first. The cricketer joked that Iram Afaq, the managing director of the Salim Habib Education Foundation, only admits people to the varsity on merit.

During his speech, Afridi also spoke of the importance of education. “Education plays a really important role in the progress of a nation,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of educating girls first and foremost, something that he and the Shahid Afridi Foundation pay special attention to. The cricketer attended the ceremony with his daughters.

We're pretty sure Afridi was joking but just in case he wasn't, study hard Mr Afridi. Exam season is right around the corner.