Saturday, November 10, 2007
From our correspondent

MOHALI, India: Shahid Afridi is delighted he helped Pakistan ‘finish the job’ against India in the second one-dayer against India here on Thursday and is now looking forward to giving putting up an even better show in the next game pencilled in for Kanpur on Sunday.

A Pakistan team official told ‘The News’ that Afridi was over the moon when he returned to the dressing room after hitting a valuable 29 that enabled Pakistan to achieve a victory target of 322 for the loss of six wickets.

“Afridi is very, very pleased the way he played and finished the game,” Pakistan team’s media manager Dr Ahsan Hameed Malik told ‘The News’ on Friday. “He (Afridi) is a team man and is itching to help Pakistan go 2-1 up in Kanpur,” he added.

Malik said that Afridi is excited about the fact that he successfully completed the responsibility of finishing the innings after Pakistan lost Younis Khan (117) and Misbah-ul-Haq (49) in quick succession.

“He clicked when it mattered most yesterday and that is something that has made Afridi really happy.” Malik added that Pakistan are now hoping that Afridi will now be in full flow at one of his favourite venues — Kanpur.

On the last tour of India, Afridi blasted a whirlwind century at the Green Park in Kanpur to set up an exciting One-day International win for Pakistan. In that match, Pakistan were made to chase 250 and their job was cut short by Afridi who blasted 102 off just 46 balls including ten fours and nine sixes.

Afridi walked in at a tense time in the Mohali day-night game but coolly took them to an enthralling win. His Mohali showing has added to his confidence and now Afridi is seen by many as one of Pakistan’s trump cards during the rest of the One-day International series that will see them playing in Kanpur (Nov 11), Gwalior (Nov 15) an Jaipur (Nov 18).

thenews

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PAKISTAN T20 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS 2009[/SIZE]