Daily Times

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been virtually ruled out of the lone T20 International against England to be played next month in Manchester. Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Saturday that the national selectors were not considering all-rounder Afridi for the match on September 7 as he was carrying a knee injury. “He has undergone a MRI scan and has been advised to undergo a rehabilitation program at the national cricket academy for the next few weeks,” sources said.

The sources added that Afridi, who stepped down as the national T20 captain after the World T20 Cup in April, would first be required to play a couple of matches in the final leg of the National T20 Championship next month before being considered for national selection. “Afridi is keen to play T20 Internationals for Pakistan as he has now focussed on just this one format after his retirement from ODIs last year. But he has to prove his fitness and form to the selectors first,” sources said.

Afridi had to step down as captain in April after Pakistan performed poorly in the Asia Cup and World T20 in Bangladesh and India. He also confirmed that batsmen Umar Akmal and Ahmad Shahzad would also not be considered for the T20 in England. “Even though the two have apologised to the chairman of the board but the selectors are yet not ready to accept them back in the national team.”

Sources said that both the youngsters would be considered for the forthcoming three-match T20 series against the West Indies in the UAE from September 23 to 27th. “Afridi, Shahzad and Umar will come under consideration for the West Indies series but the selectors still want more assurance that Shehzad and Umar will be on their best behaviour when they return to the team.” The selectors are however planning to pick uncapped allrounder Ammad Butt for the T20 match in England.