Pakistan will play two Twenty20 internationals against South Africa in Dubai next week, before taking on the Proteas in a five-match one-day international series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The limited-overs matches will be followed by two Tests before the team’s departure to New Zealand for a multi-format series.
Afridi is confident that his team will make the most of the twin assignments but asked his team-mates to put aside the bitter memories of their summer tour of England.
“We have to forget what happened during the tour of England. What the team desperately needs is some good results and I’m sure that if we play to our potential we can do that against South Africa,” the limited-over captain said.
Pakistan lost to England in all three formats (3-1 in Tests, 3-2 in ODIs and 2-0 in T20s) during a marathon tour of England that also included a series against Australia. The tour was marred by the ‘spot-fixing’ allegations that resulted in the ICC suspending Test captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
Pakistan will be without the trio in the UAE and Afridi believes his team will miss them.
“We are going to miss the three because they are our key players,” he said.
“But we can’t just sit back and cry over it. We have to focus on the upcoming assignments and, thankfully, we still have several match-winners in our side.”
Afridi said Pakistan’s spin attack will give them an edge against their rivals on slow and turning wickets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“Spinners will certainly be playing the major role in UAE,” he said
