Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has said that he will be available for Pakistan’s tour of England this summer if required by his country.
Afridi said he was staying away from his national side as they “give youngsters a chance”.
He said,”I’ve told the selectors it’s fine to keep me away and to see where the youngsters are standing,” BBC reported.
The 36-year-old all-rounder will play his first game for Hampshire since 2011 against Middlesex on Friday.
“I’m happy to concentrate on my county summer at the moment and then we’ll see what happens later,” he added. “If Pakistan wants me later in the summer, then I’m available.”
Afridi captained Pakistan in the World T20 in India in March. The right-hander and leg-spinner have not played a 50-over international since March 2015, with his last Test appearance in July 2010.
Afridi is available for Hampshire for the whole of the summer’s T20 Blast and will team up with West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy for the most of the competition.
Pakistan will face England in a four-Test series starting on July 14, followed by five one-day internationals and a T20 contest from August 24. The series is unlikely to clash with Afridi’s Hampshire commitments, with the T20 Blast quarter-finals taking place from the week beginning August 8 and final day at Edgbaston on August 20.
