Afridi returns to first-class cricket

AFP

Afridi returns to first-class cricket

In a bid to get back into form for the tours to India and South Africa, Shahid Afridi has decided to end a two-year break from first-class cricket.

A senior official of Habib Bank for whom Afridi plays in domestic cricket, said they had been asked by the all-rounder to include him in the squad for the first-class tournament.

"Initially, we had not sent his name in the 20-member squad as he last played first-class matches in 2010. But we have now asked the cricket board for special permission to allow us to replace left-armer Abdul Rehman with Afridi in the squad," the official said.

He said Rehman's name was sent in the squad and it was removed later on after the spinner was suspended from playing any cricket after failing a dope test in England.

Afridi, who now focuses on just playing ODIs and T20 matches, last played a first-class match when he captained Pakistan in the first Test against Australia at Lords in mid 2010.

He announced his retirement from the longer version of the game after that Test and since then has only focussed on limited-overs cricket.

Afridi struggled with his form in the recent World T20 Cup, scoring just 30 runs in six matches. In ODIs this year, he has scored 182 runs in 16 matches.

His bowling has also not been upto the mark as he took four wickets in the World T20 and has taken 15 wickets at an average of 43 in ODIs this year.

Former Test players have advised Afridi to play some first-class cricket to regain his form and sources said that chief selector, Iqbal Qasim, had told him this would be the only way to regain his confidence for the upcoming tours both of which were high profile for Pakistan cricket.