Afridi free to play for Ireland

CRICKET/C&G Trophy: Pakistan star Shahid Afridi will "definitely play" for Ireland in their two C&G Trophy matches against Gloucestershire and Glamorgan this weekend, according to the player's English agent.

Afridi had been contracted to play seven games as one of two overseas professionals for Ireland in the competition, starting with last Sunday's match against Hampshire in Castle Avenue. But the 26-year-old all-rounder had to return home to Karachi before that game to be with his daughter who took ill.

There had been fears this week that Afridi would pull out of the contract altogether amid pressure from his home cricket board to reverse his recent decision to retire from Test cricket.

But according to his agent, Azhar Majeed, Afridi will fly into London this Saturday and join up with other overseas player Saqlain Mushtaq and the rest of the Irish squad in Bristol where they will take on Gloucestershire on Sunday. "Shahid will definitely play for Ireland this weekend," Majeed told The Irish Times.

"He was very disappointed that he couldn't play last weekend, but he hopes people understand. His daughter has had jaundice. Last week she had a reaction and was hospitalised. So he had to go back home. Thankfully, she is fine now so he is free to play," he said.

The Irish Cricket Union has been assured that Afridi will still play seven games for Ireland in the tournament. He has come in for some stern criticism at home since his announcement earlier this month to retire from Test cricket until after next year's World Cup in the West Indies. The Pakistan Cricket Board has threatened to rewrite his contract unless he reconsiders.

"He is a very good player and we want him but we can't have players picking and choosing when and what they want to play," said chief selector Wasim Bari. "If he wants to skip Test matches then we will have to see what sort of contract he should be given."

Afridi's agent Majeed yesterday refused to comment on this except to say that "people are talking" to the player but he rejected any suggestion that his contract with Ireland could be in jeopardy if he decided to join the Pakistan Test side for their tour of England this summer. "That is not in question. He will fulfil his contract with Ireland and he is looking forward to playing in the C&G Trophy for them."

Meanwhile, all-rounder Andy White has been ruled out of this weekend's matches against Gloucestershire and Glamorgan with a wrist injury.

He sustained the knock some time before the game against Hampshire but a pain-killing injection meant he was able to play. It has failed to improve and he has has been replaced by North County medium-pacer Paul Mooney.

IRELAND (squad): T Johnston (captain), D Joyce (Merrion), J Bray (Eglinton), S Afridi (Pakistan), E Morgan (Middlesex), A Botha (North County), P Gillespie (Strabane), K McCallan (Waringstown), D Langford-Smith (Phoenix), S Mushtaq (Pakistan), P Mooney (North County), A McCoubrey (Saffron Walden).