Injured Afridi may miss practice matches ahead of Champs Trophy

Karachi, Aug 2 (ANI): Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi might miss a series of practice games in Lahore next week owing to his fitness problems, a PCB official has said.

Following an MRI report over his wrist problem, doctors at a local Karachi hospital advised Afridi a three-week rest. He has already been out of action for the last few weeks because of the injury and the illness of his wife.

Afridi has been advised a three-week rest by specialists which is why he might not play in the practice games to be played on August 5, 7 and 9, The News quoted a PCB official as saying.

The games have been planned between leading Pakistani cricketers and second string players and will be watched by the national selection committee before it names Pakistan's 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy to be played from September 12 to 28, added the paper.

However, a national selector said that since Afridi was a senior player and figures in Pakistan's Champions Trophy plans, he could be selected in the final 15. But, he added that the player would be asked to prove his fitness much before the Champions Trophy.

Afridi (28) has been out of form with the bat in recent times and was dropped from the Pakistan team during this summer's Asia Cup at home. Later, he missed Pakistan's eight-day training camp at the Army School of Physical Training in Kakul which concluded last week. (ANI)