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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
KARACHI: Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said Tuesday he was looking forward to wowing Australian crowds after signing up for South Australia in the Twenty20 Big Bash.
Afridi will replace Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis in the Redbacks' Big Bash team after a scheduling clash, officials with the Adelaide side said.
"It is a big opportunity and will help me gear up for next year's One-day Internationals against Australia and then in the World Twenty20 where we have to defend our title," Afridi told AFP.
Afridi was called up after spin sensation Mendis, whose signing was announced in July, was ruled out due to national commitments during the Twenty20 tournament in December and January.
Redbacks' "high-performance manager" Jamie Cox said Afridi's signing was "definitely a boost to our quest to qualify for the Champions League this year".
The aggressive right-hander was named player of the tournament in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007, and made his debut as Pakistan's captain in cricket's shortest form in August.
The Big Bash is Australia's domestic Twenty20 tournament.
Afridi's fellow Pakistani players will be pitted against Australia in the three-match Test series - an event which Afridi wants to skip.
"For the time being I want to concentrate on one-dayers and T20 to improve myself so that we can defend our T20 title successfully," said Afridi, who is Pakistan captain for the shortest version of the game.
The 29-year-old was appointed skipper after Younis Khan resigned from T20 cricket after Pakistan won the World Twenty20 title in England this year.
Afridi said he was excited to play with the world's best players.
"I have heard that West Indian Kieron Pollard will also play in the Twenty20 tournament in Australia so it will be very exciting and I hope that I am able to entertain the Australian crowd," said Afridi.
Afridi, man-of-the-match in Pakistan's semifinal and final win at the World Twenty20 in England, is also expected to play for Dolphins in South Africa's domestic Twenty20 competition for the 2009-10 season.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
