Cricket Afridi to try for comeback soon

Karachi, June 22, 2011 (PPI): Shahid Afridi says he would try making a comeback to Pakistan cricket team as soon as "conditions improve in the team management and administration." Afridi who left Wednesday for London to play for English county Hampshire insisting that his international career was still not over. All-rounder, who was removed as captain of one-day team last month and then got entangled into a tussle with Pakistan Cricket Board before being fined Rs 4.5 million on disciplinary grounds, will play for Hampshire in the English domestic Twenty20 competition.

"I am happy that I am getting a chance to play for Hampshire because wherever I play at the end of day I am recognized as a Pakistani and if I do well it is Pakistan cricket that gets a good name," Afridi told newsmen at Karachi airport. He will play his first match for the county on Friday against Gloucestershire and remain in England until July 15.

He said he still wanted to play international cricket. "I want to play for Pakistan again because whatever I am today it is because of Pakistan. My identity is that of a Pakistani player. And nothing is more important than that for me. The moment conditions improve in team management and administration I will try to make a comeback. Right now I just feel that the environment and conditions is not conducive for me to play international cricket.”

"I still have lot of top cricket left in me but it all depends on the circumstances but I am clear in my mind that I still have lot to offer to the national team," he added.

The all-rounder admitted he had been unable to focus on cricket in the last few weeks. "I have not been able to train that is why I appear to have put on some weight. It has been difficult to focus on cricket. But now I have put everything behind me and want to make a fresh start to my career with this stint for Hampshire." He said for the moment he would concentrate on domestic foreign leagues to keep himself ready for a return to international cricket.