Former Pakistani T20 skipper Shahid Afridi said that he is ready to serve the country at any time as he can play cricket for few more years.
In an interview with cricket.com.au on Tuesday, Afridi said that he is concentrating on cricket and wants to continue it. He said he is looking after himself very well and working hard to maintain his physical fitness.
“I still feel that I can play for the next couple of years whether it is for Pakistan or PSL (Pakistan Super League), Big Bash or England (domestic) T20s.”
“In fact before coming (to this interview) I spoke with Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and told him that it is good to have youngsters in the team but in case he needs me I will be available.
I will be available for the national team whenever it needs me,” Afridi said in England.
All-rounder Shahid Afridi, who is currently playing for Hampshire in England’s domestic T20 league, said that if Inzamam leads the team as batting coach then it would be very beneficial for the players.
Talking about the new Head Coach, Afridi said that Mickey Arthur would be good enough for the Pakistani side due to his assertive way.
“I have played under Mickey Arthur’s coaching; it was back in 2003 when I was playing a domestic season in South Africa with Griqualand West. I find him a very good and aggressive coach and I think the Pakistan team needs an aggressive coach. “He has experience of working with big teams such as Australia and South Africa too so I can expect that he will bring good results for Pakistan.”
Answering to a question related to England series, the super star believed that defeating England on their home turf will be a huge task for Pakistan, even a drawn series will be a rewarding result.
“To beat England in their conditions is a huge achievement,” he said.
“The amount of domestic cricket they play is massive and that is the reason their batsmen and bowlers are so familiar with the pitches in the country. These factors will favour England in the coming series. “Even if Pakistan manages to draw the series I think it will be a big achievement. Pakistan’s Test team however is very stable and has done well lately in the subcontinent but to win in England the players will have to put in hard yards.”
Afridi while showing interest in playing in the KFC Big Bash League said that he has regularly been offered to play in the tournament but has thus far been unavailable.
“I was offered to play Big Bash League in Australia almost every season in the last two or three years but I wasn’t able to take the offer due to my international commitments,” he added. “But if I am offered it this year I’ll surely give it a go.”
On the other hand, Afridi has also indicated at a change of franchise for the second edition of the Pakistan Super League if affairs with Peshawar Zalmi’s owner Javed Afridi will not get settled.
“No doubt that my current team is Zalmi but before moving forward I need to sort out some things with Javed Afridi (owner and chairman of Peshawar Zalmi).
Afridi stepped down as national captain following Pakistan’s ordinary performance in the ICC World T20 in India this year but changed his decision to retire from T20 Internationals. Pakistan has not played any cricket since the World T20 and are scheduled to play their next T20 International in September in England.
