Afridi in line to feature against Afghanistan
All-rounder included in Pakistan A squad for minnows’ training matches.
Afridi, who was excluded from the ODI squad against India last month, would be hoping to regain his place in the Pakistan team. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
In a bid to regain his winning form, senior all-rounder Shahid Afridi will feature in the upcoming one-day and Twenty20 fixtures against Afghanistan during their four-week long training tour of Pakistan.
According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selector, Afridi – who was a part of Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad against India last month – was included in the Pakistan A team, which is scheduled to play eight one-day and four Twenty20 matches next month.
While the tourists are preparing for their international assignments including the World Cup qualifiers, the PCB selectors felt the upcoming matches could be utilised by giving a chance to its national cricketers who have been out of high-profile action for a while.
“The purpose of including Afridi in the team is to provide him match practice,” the selector told The Express Tribune, confirming Afridi’s berth in the Pakistan A squad. “We have also included other national cricketers like Wahab Riaz in the squad.”
Performance not to reflect in international selection
However, the selector made it clear that the performance of players in the upcoming matches against Afghanistan would not necessarily lead to their selection for the forthcoming One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 series against South Africa.
“Afridi wanted to be a part of the Pakistan A squad to remain in practice so we provided him with the chance. But as far as his selection in limited-overs series is concerned, it will be premature to say anything about it. His and other players’ performance in the practice matches will not be the criteria for getting selected for international fixtures.”
The all-rounder was dropped from the ODI squad for the short tour of India due to poor form throughout last season.
The former captain has scored only 182 runs in his last 16 ODIs at an average of 15.16 and took 15 wickets at 43.13 — subsequently failing to find a place in the 15-man squad for the 50-over format.
However, the selector said the all-rounder’s ODI career is not over and he can still make a comeback in the format.
“Afridi has served the country a lot and his vast experience is valuable for the team. We hope he regains his form soon.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2013.
In a bid to regain his winning form, senior all-rounder Shahid Afridi will feature in the upcoming one-day and Twenty20 fixtures against Afghanistan during their four-week long training tour of Pakistan.
According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selector, Afridi – who was a part of Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad against India last month – was included in the Pakistan A team, which is scheduled to play eight one-day and four Twenty20 matches next month.
While the tourists are preparing for their international assignments including the World Cup qualifiers, the PCB selectors felt the upcoming matches could be utilised by giving a chance to its national cricketers who have been out of high-profile action for a while.
“The purpose of including Afridi in the team is to provide him match practice,” the selector told The Express Tribune, confirming Afridi’s berth in the Pakistan A squad. “We have also included other national cricketers like Wahab Riaz in the squad.”
Performance not to reflect in international selection
However, the selector made it clear that the performance of players in the upcoming matches against Afghanistan would not necessarily lead to their selection for the forthcoming One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 series against South Africa.
“Afridi wanted to be a part of the Pakistan A squad to remain in practice so we provided him with the chance. But as far as his selection in limited-overs series is concerned, it will be premature to say anything about it. His and other players’ performance in the practice matches will not be the criteria for getting selected for international fixtures.”
The all-rounder was dropped from the ODI squad for the short tour of India due to poor form throughout last season.
The former captain has scored only 182 runs in his last 16 ODIs at an average of 15.16 and took 15 wickets at 43.13 — subsequently failing to find a place in the 15-man squad for the 50-over format.
However, the selector said the all-rounder’s ODI career is not over and he can still make a comeback in the format.
“Afridi has served the country a lot and his vast experience is valuable for the team. We hope he regains his form soon.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2013.