Cricket

Afridi farewell's fate on Sept 26

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is set to touch down in Dhaka today to join Rangpur Riders ahead of the Bangladesh Premier League, which will kick off on November 4. Photo: Internet

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed said on Monday a decision on whether to give former Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal a farewell match in the upcoming T20 series against West Indies would be taken at a meeting on September 26.

There were reports the PCB's selection committee headed by former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq wanted to give Afridi a swansong match, but the move was opposed by other officials.

Afridi stepped down as Twenty20 captain following Pakistan's first-round exit in the World Twenty20 in India in April. He vowed to continue as a player but has not been picked since. Ahmed also said the PCB had not ruled out picking ex-captain Salman Butt, one of three players punished for spot-fixing in 2010.

Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir had their bans lifted in September last year. But so far only Amir has staged an international comeback.

Butt's remarkable form since his return -- scoring 536 in seven one-day cup matches last year and 350 in eight Twenty20 games -- has put him back in the running.

"There is no bar on Butt's selection," said Ahmed. "Our selection committee can select any player."

Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the side in the three-match Twenty20 series starting in Dubai from Friday.

That will be followed by three one-day matches with Azhar as captain and as many Tests -- all in the United Arab Emirates.

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Afridi farewell's fate on Sept 26

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is set to touch down in Dhaka today to join Rangpur Riders ahead of the Bangladesh Premier League, which will kick off on November 4. Photo: Internet

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed said on Monday a decision on whether to give former Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal a farewell match in the upcoming T20 series against West Indies would be taken at a meeting on September 26.

There were reports the PCB's selection committee headed by former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq wanted to give Afridi a swansong match, but the move was opposed by other officials.

Afridi stepped down as Twenty20 captain following Pakistan's first-round exit in the World Twenty20 in India in April. He vowed to continue as a player but has not been picked since. Ahmed also said the PCB had not ruled out picking ex-captain Salman Butt, one of three players punished for spot-fixing in 2010.

Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir had their bans lifted in September last year. But so far only Amir has staged an international comeback.

Butt's remarkable form since his return -- scoring 536 in seven one-day cup matches last year and 350 in eight Twenty20 games -- has put him back in the running.

"There is no bar on Butt's selection," said Ahmed. "Our selection committee can select any player."

Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the side in the three-match Twenty20 series starting in Dubai from Friday.

That will be followed by three one-day matches with Azhar as captain and as many Tests -- all in the United Arab Emirates.

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