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Karachi: Pakistan's one-day cricket captain Shahid Afridi has said he is available for the two ODIs against Ireland later this month.
Afridi's announcement comes at a time when the Pakistan Cricket Board has issued him a notice for giving statements on the team management after returning from the West Indies.
Afridi also played down reports that he had a serious rift with head coach Waqar Younis over selection matters.
The PCB has indicated that it might send the same team that is playing the Test series in the West Indies to play the series against Ireland on the way back home from the Caribbean.
But Afridi said he was keen to play against Ireland and would also be in England at the same time playing for Hampshire.
The all-rounder will play for Hampshire for their Twenty20 campaign where he will join South Africa spinner Imran Tahir.
Afridi, however, said it would be up to the PCB to decide on his fate for the series.
"In my reply I cleared that I had no intentions to target any individual or violate the code of conduct," he said. "I've tried to convince the PCB that it was a general comment which I often give in the interest of the team. I'd be happy to play but it's up to the board to decide on my selection."
However, the PCB has not yet made any decision over his inclusion.
"We're awaiting manager Intikhab Alam's report on the West Indies tour to make a decision on the matter," confirmed a PCB official.
After playing against Ireland, Pakistan's next assignment is a tour to the Zimbabwe in August.
But before that, the PCB has permitted number of players including Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal to sign up for teams in the inaugural Sri Lankan premier league competition scheduled in June-July.
"I have always been fully committed to playing for my country and leading my country and I have no plans to step down from the role of captain. It is an honour to captain one's country and it's a boyhood dream that I do not want to give up," Afridi said.
"I've informed the Board that I will in the near future be going to the USA for personal reasons, subject to the necessary travel documents, but will be available for the matches against Ireland," he added.
Pakistan take on Ireland on May 28 and 30 following which Afridi will be representing Hampshire in the Friends Provident Twenty20 competition.
