Afridi Doubtful For T20 Opener

Dubai: All-rounder Shahid Afridi is a major injury doubt for Pakistan ahead of their Twenty20 series against Australia in Dubai.

Afridi had the injury bandaged and was able to complete his 10-over spell in Monday night's third and final one-day international in Sharjah, but his bowling was ineffective and he took 0-62 as Australia won the match by three wickets to seal a 2-1 series win.

The absence of Afridi, who missed last Friday's second match of the ODI series with a back injury, would be a major blow to Pakistan as both sides prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 that starts in Sri Lanka in less than two weeks.

Afridi was man of the match in the semi-final and final when Pakistan won the World Twenty20 tournament in 2009 in England, and he has taken more wickets in the shortest international format of the game than any other player in history - 58.

If Afridi is absent, more responsibility is likely to fall on his fellow spinner Saeed Ajmal and also fast bowler Umar Gul, recalled after being left out of the ODIs.

Gul (55) and Ajmal (54) are second and third on the list of all-time Twenty20 international wicket-takers behind Afridi, but captain Mohammed Hafeez said his side's hopes would depend on the team rather than individual brilliance.

Australia welcome back 19-year-old fast bowler Patrick Cummins after the latest in a series of injury problems that has restricted him to six limited-overs matches since he took seven wickets on his Test debut against South Africa last November.

Australia have opted to keep fellow fast bowler Alister McDermott with the squad for the Twenty20 internationals.

McDermott, the son of former Australia fast bowler Craig, was called up as a replacement for Clint McKay after the latter suffered a hamstring strain during a pre-tour training camp, and although McKay is now fit again, McDermott, 21, will stay on.

Brad Hogg's wrist spin will add a dimension lacking from Australia's ODI combination, while the returns of Shane Watson and Pat Cummins add power and pace. Cameron White's chance of a place in the batting order may depend on the bowling balance chosen.

Teams from:

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Sami, Nasir Jamshed, Umar Gul, Imran Nazir, Raza Hasan

Australia: David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, George Bailey (captain), David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Michael Clarke, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty, Alister McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, Cameron White

Pitch and conditions
Dubai's pitch has shown evidence of some pace and bounce in recent times, but its most abiding characteristics are helpfulness to spinners.

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan have won seven and lost seven of the 14 T20 matches they have played in Dubai. They defeated Australia in the two sides' only previous match at the ground, by seven wickets in 2009.

Match facts
Wednesday September 5, 2012 (day/night)
Start time 2000 local (1600 GMT)