Afridi starts training after recovery
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
KARACHI, Mar 17 (AFP): Flamboyant Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi Saturday started training after recovering from a groin injury, hoping to play his part in the World Twenty20 starting in Bangladesh.
The fifth edition of the World Twenty20 with 16 teams in competition will be held from March 16 to April 6.
The 34-year-old Afridi, who suffered fitness problems, in the Asia Cup last week, said he was feeling much better.
"I trained for the first time since the injury and (I am) feeling very good. I am almost 90 percent fit and hope to play at my full fitness once I join the squad," Afridi told reporters.
Bangladesh, ranked 10th in the world, have been drawn with Afghanistan, Nepal and Hong Kong in group A of the first round.
The other group comprises Zimbabwe, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands.
The top team from each group advances to the main tournament. They will join the eight seeded teams in the second, which opens with the India-Pakistan match on March 21.
Batsman Afridi hit two last over sixes to help Pakistan beat arch rival India in a thrilling one-wicket finish in the Asia Cup held in Bangladesh earlier this month.