Dashing Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s T20 captain and one-day vice-captain, has ruled himself out of Test cricket till 2011, saying that he intends to concentrate only on the shortest version of the game as well as the ODIs.
"I was keen in the past to play Test cricket and my record on that platform is there for everyone to see. I have previously made myself available to the selectors for Test matches, but wasn’t given a chance, so I have decided to focus solely on 20 over and 50 over cricket until at least the World Cup in 2011," he told UK-based website PakPassion.net.
Afridi also said that with so much cricket being played these days and the international schedule being so hectic, he has felt that it is in his best interests to keep fresh for the shorter versions of the game, especially with both World Cup competitions to be played in the next 2 years.
The all-rounder who averages over 37 with the bat in Test cricket, including 8 half centuries and 5 centuries and has taken 47 wickets at under 35 apiece with the ball added: "I’m fully fit and preparing for the training camp ahead of the series in UAE against New Zealand. There are no injury problems and I was very keen to play some games for Habib Bank in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy competition, but I have been extremely busy with a number of meetings with the PCB, which have meant that I was unavailable for these matches."
Afridi’s last appearance in a Test match was at Old Trafford in July 2006 where he scored 15 and 17 and took 1 for 76 in a heavy defeat for Pakistan against England .
He will be 31 years of age when the 2011 World Cup due to be played in Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh is completed.
Meanwhile, another up-and-coming star Umar Akmal told the website that he has still a lot to learn about cricket.
The highly rated teenager said he had a promising start to his international cricket but is still learning about the subtle nuances of the game.
"I still have so much to learn as I have only played less than 30 first class games and under 10 international matches. Its fantastic that I have so many experienced players around me at both domestic level with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and at international level. Players at SNGPL of the calibre of Misbah ul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Shafiq and Saleem Mughal have helped me a great deal," stated the 19 -year-old younger brother of Kamal Akmal.
Umar who has notched up 290 runs at an average of 58.00 in 8 one day internationals for Pakistan added that he felt in good shape and had been working hard on his fitness since returning from South Africa. "There was no time for rest as far as I was concerned, I got straight into the fitness training with trainer David Dwyer at the Lahore Academy and then pre-season training started with SNGPL".
Whilst senior players have helped Umar over the years, the support of his family has been invaluable to him. "I am so lucky as I have the blessings of my parents behind me and my brothers Adnan and Kamran of course are always there for me and to encourage me. It definitely helps to have cricketers in the family to share thoughts, ideas and opinions."
Responding to a question regarding the crucial leg before decision by Simon Taufel in the semi final of the Champions Trophy, Umar stated "Its just one of those things, cricketers make mistakes, so do umpires, we are all only human. Yes it was disappointing at the time when it happened, but there is no point in feeling sorry for myself. Its best to move on quickly and start thinking about the next game, as after the Champions Trophy I had to look ahead to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and now the series against New Zealand."
He felt that next month series against the Kiwis will be a close one as both sides are evenly matched and as far as he was concerned whosoever plays the best cricket will be victorious.
