Shahid Afridi to play for Hampshire in 2011.
Shahid Afridi has signed with Hampshire to play Twenty20 in Friends Provident t20 which is major Twenty20 event in England’s domestic Cricket played in summer. This year he is expected to be available for whole season of 2011. Afridi also signed with Hampshire last year but couldn’t play as he was appointed captain of Pakistan for Test Series against Australia.
Shahid Afridi will add some fire in Hampshire’s middle order as suggested by his strike rate(159) of this format. Moreover, Afridi is leading wicket taker and first bowler to take 50 wickets in T20 internationals, he is also one of leading wicket takers in T20 Cricket(including domestic).
Hampshire is the current champions of Friends Provident T20. Abdul Razzak, the Pakistani all-rounder, played for Hampshire in their last year’s triumph. So this year Pakistan duo of Abdul Razzak and Shahid Afridi might feature simultaneously for Hampshire. It is to be noted that only two overseas player can feature in final XI.
It will not be first time Afridi representing as an overseas player. He has played in IPL for Deccan Chargers in 2008 and also played for South Australia in 2010. He also signed with South Africa’s Nashua Dolphins but couldn’t play due to international assignments.
Reported by Mazher Arshad
