Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi, ODI captain of Pakistan, makes him self available for the two ODIs against Ireland later this month. Pakistan will be traveling to face Ireland in the 2 One Day International matches to be played towards the end of this month.
After Captain Shahid Afridi’s rift with head coach Waqar Younis over selection matters. There were rumours that Afridi will be removed from his captaincy of the ODI’s. But Afridi is now keen to play against Ireland.
There was a feeling that Shahid Afridi might go the Kevin Pietersen, after latter’s rift with England coach Peter Moores. Pakistan cricket has always been in the news either for the good reason or the wrong. In the World Cup 2011 they way their young team performed they won the hearts of not only their home nation but also other cricket nations around the world, but immediately after the World Cup the series against West Indies was won by them in not convincing matter with the the margin of 3-2 although Pakistan won first three matches of the series but they crumbled in the last two matches.
The PCB has indicated that it might send the same team that is playing the Test series in the West Indies to play the series against Ireland on the way back home from the Caribbean. But before that, the PCB has permitted number of players including Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal to sign up for teams in the inaugural Sri Lankan premier league competition scheduled in June-July.
Shahid Afridi downplayed the PCB’s decision to seek an “explanation” from him for the comments he made after returning to Pakistan from the Caribbean and accepted an offer to lead one of the provinces in the inaugural edition of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). The SLPL will be a seven-team inter-provincial tournament played over approximately 18 days in July-August and the winner of the tournament will qualify for the Champions League Twenty20. Among the other international players who will be taking part are Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi, Daniel Vettori, Daniel Christian, Herschelle Gibbs and Kevin O’Brien. Also, 12 Indian players are expected to feature in SLPL.
Pakistan in Ireland ODI Series 2011 Schedule:
Ireland vs Pakistan – 1st ODI
Date: 28 May 2011
Venue: Belfast
Ireland vs Pakistan – 2nd ODI
Date: 30 May 2011
Venue: Belfast
Tags: Belfast, Ireland, ODI Series, Pakistan, Shahid Afridi, SLPL, Sri Lanka Premier League
