Afridi withdraws from SA Tests 27 Sep 2007 By: Sudeep Popat

The explosive Shahid Afridi has pulled out of the three-Test series against South Africa at home starting next week, wishing not to play cricket while fasting in the Islamic holy month of Ramadam.

Afridi, who received the Player of the Tournament award recently in the World Twenty20 Championships, said, "I asked the Pakistan board to allow me to skip the two Tests against South Africa because it would be difficult to fast and play in Ramadan."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has accepted Afridi's withdrawal, which the media speculates is because of his poor showing in the Twenty20 final against India, which Pakistan lost by five runs. Afridi, however, denied such suggestions, saying, "We lost the final due to poor batting and I apologized to the fans for not doing my part in the final but that did not influence my decision of not playing Tests."

Pakistan will announce the squad for the first Test that commences on October 1 on this Friday.


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