Yahoo News 
Batting form a priority for Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s Twenty20 International captain and a key member of the One-Day International team, has promised to ramp up his batting form ahead of the two limited overs series against New Zealand.
The 34-year-old Afridi has been very effective with his fast legspinners in the shorter formats of the game, but his power-packed
batting has lacked a punch in recent times.
For a man who scored three of his six ODI hundreds inside 53 balls (including the record of the fastest 100 in 37 balls which was broken earlier this year by New Zealand’s Corey Anderson), Afridi’s highest has been a 59 in 11 matches this year at a poor average of 18.62 in the ODIs.
In the T20s, he is averaging 17.5 in five matches this year. And ahead of the two back-to-back T20 matches, which will be
played tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday) at the Dubai International Stadium, Afridi reassured his many fans in the UAE that he is looking to come good with the bat, especially with the World Cup just a couple of months away.
“No doubt I have concentrated a lot on my bowling for the last three or four years, and I do know that my batting is anyway a ‘once-in-a-blue-moon’ type of a batting,” saidAfridi, whose last ODI century came against Bangladesh in June 2010.
“However, I want to make sure that I focus on my batting also because it is very important for me. There have been many matches in the past that I have been able to win for Pakistan on the basis of my batting alone.
“I have even had a word with the coach if it is possible for me to bat a little higher up in the order so that I have some more overs to bat.
I do understand that my fans like my batting more compared to bowling. I am going to try my best to get back into some good batting form before the World Cup.”
While admitting that the focus is on the upcoming World Cup, and hence more on the five-match ODI series starting December 8, Afridi said the team wanted to win each and every match so that the confidence remains high.
“We all know how important every series and every match is for us because the World Cup is not too far away. I think the boys are feeling very confident ahead of the series and my side is a very well-balanced one,” said Afridi.
“You can’t compare the T20s with ODI cricket. It’s a totally different format. But I think a victory, and to have a winning combination is very important.
You feel more confident after a victory. Each victory and each game before the World Cup is important to us.”
The skipper also welcomed the return of two of his experienced fast bowlers for the series, but played down the absence of Saeed Ajmal.
“Both Umar (Gul) and Wahab (Riaz) have performed very well for Pakistan in the past. They are both looking very fit and they seem to be in good form. I am very happy to see them in the squad,” he added.
“But let’s not compare a fast bowler to a spinner. A fast bowler has got his own utility in the team.
“I have always said that Saeed has been one of the best bowlers in the world. He has performed brilliantly for Pakistan. But if you look at the last series, our spinners did very well despite his absence and played a very important role in our wins.
“I believe Pakistan has got good bowling strength. We have bowlers who are waiting for their chance to get into the team."
