PCB to give Afridi another chance in Toronto

Lahore, Jul 9 (UNI) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to give the off-colour Shahid Afridi another chance to redeem himself during a Twenty20 contest to be held in Toronto next month.

''Afridi is one of our best Twenty20 players and there is no way we are going to overlook him for the Toronto event,'' chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed was quoted as saying by 'The News'.

The 28-year-old Afridi has been going through a lean patch, especially with the bat. He was dropped from Pakistan's last Asia Cup match against Bangladesh last week.

According to reports, captain Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson are against the idea of brining back Afridi but Salahuddin rubbished such reports.

''His team players and officials are backing Afridi and believe that he will soon return to form,'' he said.

The Twenty20 event, that will also involve the West Indies, is to be tentatively held in Toronto from August 13-16.

It is expected that the tournament will be confirmed within the next couple of days.

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