Daily Times

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, alongside batsmen Ahmad Shahzad and Umar Akmal, has been dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming T20I match against England, according to media reports. Pakistan’s current tour of England features one T20I match on September 7 in Manchester, and it is unlikely that the trio will make an appearance for the visitors. While Akmal and Shahzad were initially dropped from the squad due to disciplinary reasons, Afridi, who only represents Pakistan in T20Is, was excluded to give younger players a chance to shine in the international arena. Prior to the start of England’s tour, the 36-year-old opted out of fitness tests due to varying degree of knee injuries. The all-rounder claimed in a tweet that he was resting his knee in order to regain full fitness ahead of his T20 stint with English county Hampshire. On the other hand, Akmal’s omission came as a surprise since he was cleared for selection by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan, according to an official press release. The chairman had also informed chief selector Inzamamul Haq that the 26-year-old is eligible for future selection. Pakistan currently trail the five-match ODI series 1-0 after levelling the Test series 2-2 against England.