Hope to be fit in time for ICC World Twenty20: Afridi
All-rounder thinks Pakistan has the best limited-overs combination in the world
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is hopeful of a quick recovery from injury in time for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh from Sunday (March 16).
Afridi, 34, hurt his groin during the recent Asia Cup in Bangladesh.
As a result, he will not fly out with the team early Friday, and instead travel on Monday.
"I am recovering well and (will) hopefully play at least one warm-up match," Afridi told reporters on Thursday (March 13).
He is set to miss Pakistan's first warm-up match against New Zealand on Monday. Its second warm-up match will be against South Africa on March 19.
One of cricket's hardest hitters, his sparkling form with the bat helped Pakistan beat arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup, sealing victory in the last over by striking successive sixes. He followed this up with a whirlwind 25-ball 59 to anchor a tough 327-run chase against Bangladesh, before Pakistan stumbled in the final to eventual winners Sri Lanka.
But Afridi said Pakistan could still take heart from its victory over India, against whom they will play on March 21 in Dhaka.
"The Asia Cup win over India will benefit us," said Afridi, but cautioned, "We have to be at our best to beat India who will now be with (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni.
Afridi, who also bowls leg-spin, will be key to Pakistan's World T20 campaign. In 70 T20I matches, Afridi has 1044 runs and 73 wickets. Afridi was player of the tournament in the inaugural World T20 in South Africa, with Pakistan finishing runners-up to India. He was Man of the Match in the semifinal and final in Pakistan's World T20 triumph in England in 2009.
"I can't see a better (limited-overs) combination in the world than Pakistan because our bowling is good, batting is good but the only mistake we are (making) that's in fielding and fielding is the most essential thing in limited-overs cricket," he said.
Afridi, 34, hurt his groin during the recent Asia Cup in Bangladesh.
As a result, he will not fly out with the team early Friday, and instead travel on Monday.
"I am recovering well and (will) hopefully play at least one warm-up match," Afridi told reporters on Thursday (March 13).
He is set to miss Pakistan's first warm-up match against New Zealand on Monday. Its second warm-up match will be against South Africa on March 19.
One of cricket's hardest hitters, his sparkling form with the bat helped Pakistan beat arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup, sealing victory in the last over by striking successive sixes. He followed this up with a whirlwind 25-ball 59 to anchor a tough 327-run chase against Bangladesh, before Pakistan stumbled in the final to eventual winners Sri Lanka.
But Afridi said Pakistan could still take heart from its victory over India, against whom they will play on March 21 in Dhaka.
"The Asia Cup win over India will benefit us," said Afridi, but cautioned, "We have to be at our best to beat India who will now be with (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni.
Afridi, who also bowls leg-spin, will be key to Pakistan's World T20 campaign. In 70 T20I matches, Afridi has 1044 runs and 73 wickets. Afridi was player of the tournament in the inaugural World T20 in South Africa, with Pakistan finishing runners-up to India. He was Man of the Match in the semifinal and final in Pakistan's World T20 triumph in England in 2009.
"I can't see a better (limited-overs) combination in the world than Pakistan because our bowling is good, batting is good but the only mistake we are (making) that's in fielding and fielding is the most essential thing in limited-overs cricket," he said.
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