Discarded all-rounder Shahid Afridi today said he was confident Pakistan ‘A’ team will win a tri-nation series in India starting next week, raising his chances of a recall to the national team. “Playing in India would be a great challenge but we are up to it and I am confident that my side will win the series,” Afridi said. A 14-member Pakistan ‘A’ team with Afridi as captain leaves for India tomorrow to face hosts India and Sri Lanka in a three-nation series in Kolkata from December 22-29. The 23-year-old Afridi was dumped after a poor run in Pakistan’s dismal first round exit from this year’s World Cup. He was then banned from a four-nation event in Sharjah in April after he was charged with abusing India’s Virender Sehwag in a World Cup match. Afridi was not considered for the national team and instead played provincial cricket in South Africa. “This would be a ladder for me to regain my place in the national team as I am anxiously waiting to play against India on home grounds,” said Afridi. The ‘A’ series is the last of three junior level events agreed upon by the participating countries during the Asian Cricket Council meeting in London in June this year. Squad Shahid Afridi (captain), Imran Nazir, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Naved Latif, Faisal Iqbal, Bilal Asad, Abdul Rauf, Khalil Ahmed, Mansoor Amjad, Junaid Zia, Saeed Bin Nisar, Mohammad Irshad, Aminur Rehman. Naved Anjum (coach), Azhar Zaidi (manager).
