Dropped allrounder Shahid Afridi might bereconsidered for Pakistan's one-day international series against India,limited-overs captain Misbah-ul-Haq said on Wednesday.
Afridi was picked only for the two Twenty20s against Indiathis month, but left out of the three one-dayers because he's scored only 182runs in his last 16 ODIs with only one half century.
But Afridi has scored two half centuries in 50-over practicematches in the last three days, including 90 off 64 balls on Wednesday to catchthe eyes of his captain.
"If his form remains like this and we needed him, wewill definitely consider him," Misbah said in Lahore at Pakistan'straining camp for the tour.
"The form of senior players, who are experiencedenough, is very important."
Afridi has played 349 one-dayers, the third most for aPakistani, but has struggled for runs in ODIs this year.
Former captain Wasim Akram reportedly criticized Afridi'sexclusion from the ODIs and said the enigmatic allrounder could have beenpicked in any team as a bowler.
"Indian players are afraid of Afridi and I fail tounderstand why he was dropped," Daily Jang quoted Akram as saying."If the selectors were thinking that Afridi was out of form then theyshould have also dropped him from the Twenty20 team."
Pakistan leaves for India on Dec. 22, and the series beginswith a Twenty20 at Bangalore on Dec. 25.
The Pakistan Cricket Board appointed another former captain,Inzamam-ul-Haq, as the batting consultant for the short tour of India whichends on Jan. 6 after the third ODI at New Delhi.
Misbah said Inzamam has helped the batsmen how to bementally strong while playing against India, and be aggressive against theirarchrivals.
"He is teaching us what types of hurdles we are goingto face and how to get over them," Misbah said. "No doubt in Indiavs. Pakistan cricket you have to play aggressive cricket and we will try toapply it over there."
Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore believes offspinner Saeed Ajmalwill be their trump card against India, but Misbah said the rest of the bowlersalso have to take responsibility.
"India has depth in their batting lineup and you can'tcatch them with one bowler," Misbah said. "As always, Saeed Ajmal isour trump card, but as a team if we bowl well then we do have a chance and Ithink it's not a right thing to depend only on Saeed Ajmal."
Misbah said the first tour between the neighbours in fiveyears will ramp up the pressure and expectations more than usual, but heinsists they must try to treat the series as a regular event.
"There is always pressure in India-Pakistan matches andit will stay like this whether we are playing against each other regularly ornot," Misbah said. "Everyone follows it and has lots of expectations,but the key for us will be to play normal cricket like we do play against otherteams."