Afridi to Leicestershire? (8 Apr 1997)

07 April 1997 Leicester targeting Afridi

By Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, April 6: The export of Pakistan cricketers to the English County Championship continues and this time world-record holder Shahid Khan Afridi is the target of Leicestershire. Already five Pakistan bowlers have been recruited by respective counties with the latest being paceman Mohammad Zahid who signed a one-year contract with Nottinghamshire.

According to investigations, Shahid Afridi has been offered a one-year contract at pounds sterling 75,000 but the allrounder's confirmation is awaited.

Leicestershire has also kept the announcement of the offer a secret probably fearing a decline from the Pakistani. Afridi is being preferred over West Indian Phil Simmons who has represented Leicester in the previous four seasons.

Sources, on condition of anonymity, said Afridi's agent in London is arriving in Karachi on April 11 and will have discussions with the allrounder when the Pakistan cricket team arrives on a 24-hour transit to Karachi from Sharjah on way to Colombo.

Sources maintained that the County and Shahid Afridi are waiting for the announcement of the Pakistan cricket team for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka between April 13 and 30.

"Although Afridi is unlikely to be in the team but until formal announcement is made, things can't be finalised," sources added. The County also approached the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) inquiring about Shahid Afridi's availability. The cricket board has not informed them clearly, sources added.

Shahid Khan Afridi took the world by storm when he scored an electrifying 37-ball 100 with 11 sixes (both being world record) in Kenya against Sri Lanka in only his second one-day appearance. Since September last year, Shahid Afridi has been an integral part of Pakistan's one-day party but has yet to make his Test debut. Leicestershire are hoping on Afridi's magic chiefly in the limited overs competitions - the NatWest Trophy, the Benson and Hedges Cup and the Sunday League.

Source:: Dawn (https://xiber.com/dawn/)