Pakistan Selector: Afridi`s Career Not Done For

Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed has rubbished reports Shahid Afridi is on the verge of being dropped from Pakistan's Twenty20 side.

Pakistan are expected to finalise arrangements this week for a tournament in Toronto with West Indies and Bangladesh, which is pencilled in for August 13 to 16.

Reports in Pakistan suggest skipper Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson are keen to leave Afridi, who has had a poor run with the bat, out of their squad for the trip to Canada.

But Salahuddin said: "Afridi is one of our best Twenty20 players and there is no way we are going to overlook him for the Toronto event.

"The players and officials are backing Afridi and believe that he will soon return to form."

One player likely to miss out is controversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar.

Shoaib had an 18-month ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Court provisionally lifted by the Lahore High Court last week, but he is expected to be told he must prove his fitness before rejoining the national team.