Afridi to play dead rubber against Sri Lanka

Team official says there is no plan to make Afridi rest today

Pakistan's T20I captain Shahid Afridi will be playing the dead rubber against Sri Lanka on Friday despite reports suggesting that he might opt to rest himself.

Pakistan were knocked out of the race to play the Asia Cup final after being defeated by hosts Bangladesh on Wednesday. The loss led to public outrage and there were calls to make wholesale changes by axing Afridi, the team management and even the selection committee.



According to reports, the all-rounder will play his last match in Bangladesh as he has already announced his retirement after World T20 in India.

"Afridi will play today's match against Sri Lanka and there is no plan to make him rest," a team official told The Express Tribune.

"The reports aren't true. There are plans to make changes but Afridi will be part of the side with Mohammad Nawaz and Imad Wasim, who are likely to get a chance in today's match in place of Anwar Ali and Mohammad Irfan respectively. But the final decision will be made after observing the pitch as there have been seaming tracks."



Meanwhile, the national selection committee led by Haroon Rasheed during a meeting, discussed what changes could be made in the World T20 squad.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has already said on record that there will be changes before Pakistan's first match in the mega event in India.

Ahmed Shehzad's selection in place of Khurram Manzoor is all set to be endorsed, while selectors are also thinking to add another player in the top-order with Fakhar Zaman in consideration, who was not part of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but had good outings against English Lions for Pakistan A.

Further, middle-order batsman Khalid Latif will be joining the World T20 squad in place of Iftikhar Ahmad, who is yet to get a game in the Asia Cup.