Afridi replaces Mendis in Australia’s Big Bash
Sydney: Flamboyant Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi will replace Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis in the Redbacks’ Big Bash team after a scheduling clash, officials with the Adelaide side said on Tuesday.
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.