Afridi to lead ICC World XI

KARACHI: Former Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi will lead the ICC World XI side against Windies in the one-off T20I at Lord’s on May 31 after England limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan pulled out of the contest with a fractured finger. Morgan’s national teammate Sam Billings will replace him in the squad.

Morgan suffered the injury on his right ring finger during a Royal London One-Day cup encounter against Somerset on Sunday (May 27) and is expected to regain fitness ahead of England’s one-off ODI against Scotland on June 10 in Edinburgh, which will then be followed by a five-match ODI series at home against Australia.

England internationals Sam Curran and Tymal Mills have also been added to the squad, increasing the roster to 14 members. The match is being held to raise funds for the reconstruction of Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla, the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, the Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica, the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground in the British Virgin Islands and the Carib Lumber Ball Park in St. Maarten, that were damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year. This match will also see Afridi make a return to international cricket on a one-off basis having last played for Pakistan in the World T20 in 2016. Prior to Morgan pulling out, Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and India allrounder Hardik Pandya also withdrew from the contest and were subsequently replaced.

AFP adds: Eoin Morgan hopes to make a quick return from the fractured finger that has ruled the England one-day captain out of his appearance for the Rest of the World against the West Indies.

Morgan will miss the Twenty20 fixture at Lord’s after chipping the end of his right ring finger.It is believed the problem will sideline Morgan for seven to 10 days, meaning he should be fit to play in England’s one-day international against Scotland at Edinburgh on June 10.

The Scotland clash is followed by five ODIs against Australia next month.Morgan’s county Middlesex confirmed he suffered the injury when he was fielding during the Royal London One-Day Cup match against Somerset on Sunday.

The batsman was set to captain the World XI in a game which is being held to raise funds for stadiums in Dominica and Anguilla damaged by hurricanes last year.

Andy Flower, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s stand-in director, said on the ICC’s official website: “It is not a bad crack but it is bad enough to keep him out of tomorrow’s Middlesex game and the World XI game.

“It is not a huge concern, it is one we can hopefully manage past in about a week.”ICC World XI squad: Shahid Afridi (C), Dinesh Karthik, Mitchell McClenaghan, Thisara Perera, Rashid Khan, Luke Ronchi, Shoaib Malik, Tamim Iqbal, Sandeep Lamichhane, Adil Rashid, Mohammed Shami, Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Tymal Mills.