Shahid Afridi To Star In Emirates Twenty20 Tournament

Shahid Afridi To Star In Emirates Twenty20 Tournament

Shahid Afridi's latest Twenty20 adventure will see him represent the Fly Emirates XI in Dubai.

©REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Talismanic and sometimes controversial Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has signed up to play for the Fly Emirates XI in the forthcoming Emirates Airline Twenty20 tournament in Dubai in March.

The tournament sees the Fly Emirates XI, a team made up of Fly Emirates employees, compete with Surrey, Sussex and the Cape Cobras - three teams who between them have won a domestic Twenty20 title apiece.

“It is going to be a tough challenge, but I am looking forward to it immensely. I always enjoy my time in Dubai and am very excited about playing in the first ever Emirates Airline Twenty20 tournament," Afridi, 29, said in a statement.

“I know there is a real passion among cricket fans in the UAE and it will be great to play in front of them.”

The star-studded tournament lasts from two days from 19th to 20th March and will serve as a pre-season warm-up for Surrey and Sussex.

Afridi, who played a huge role during Pakistan's 2009 ICC World Twenty20 success, has since signed deals to play Twenty20 cricket for Hampshire, South Australia and the Nashua Dolphins.

He has also represented the Deccan Chargers, Kent and the Karachi Dolphins in Twenty20 cricket and is currently serving a two-match ban for ball-tampering during the fifth One-Day International against Australia in Perth on 31st January.

© Cricket World 2010

Breaking news, score updates and interviews on Cricket World Live - tune in from Monday to Friday, 11:00 - 17:00 GMT and, get the latest from Cricket World® with Facebook, twitter and YouTube and keep up with the action with the latest cricket TV highlights and interviews.