Shoaib Akhtar, the former Pakistan speedster, believes Prime Minister Narendra Modi might request MS Dhoni to come out of retirement and play the T20 World Cup in 2021.

“I think he (Dhoni) could have gone on to play the T20 World Cup,” ,” Akhtar said in an interview with YouTube channel ‘BolWasim’.

“The way India supports its stars, the way they love them, and recognises them, they would have played him in T20s. But it was his personal choice,” he added.

The former Indian captain MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15.

Akhtar further said that Dhoni might make a comeback on the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“You never know, the Prime Minister may call him and request him to play the T20 World Cup. It is very much possible,” he said.

“Imran Khan was asked by General Zia-ul-Haq not to leave cricket after 1987, and he played,” Akhtar added.

“You cannot say no to the Prime Minister. I think Prime Minister of India should request him to lead India in the 2021 T20 World Cup,” the former speedster further added.

Dhoni played for India in 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20Is, affecting a staggering number of 829 dismissals behind the stumps.