Pakistan omit Afridi

Shahid Afridi inspired Pakistan to ICC World Twenty20 glory but has asked for a two-week break and will miss the Sri Lanka series

Buy this photo

Pakistan have left all-rounder Shahid Afridi out of their squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka at his own request.

Afridi, who was the star of Pakistan’s ICC World Twenty20 final win, has asked for two weeks’ rest, but Mohammad Yousuf has been recalled to the 15-man group.

Yousuf returns after a stint with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League. The prolific batsman severed ties with the ICL last month and returned to the fold under the PCB’s amnesty scheme.

His ICL team-mate Abdul Razzaq, another star of Pakistan’s World Twenty20 success, was also picked.

Pakistan play three Tests and five one-day internationals in Sri Lanka, beginning with the first Test on July 4.

Pakistan squad: Younus Khan (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamir, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rauf, Faisal Iqbal, Fawad Alam.