Afridi counting on young blood to deliver in Pak's one-off T20 against Oz

Pakistan Twenty20 team captain Shahid Afridi is counting on the new players in the team to deliver in the one-off Twenty20 against Australia to be played in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

The T20 and ODI squads left for Dubai on Wednesday, with the players representing Lahore Lions in the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) tournament expected to join the squad in Dubai directly from India.

Afridi said that his side's strategy for the game against Australia and later against New Zealand was built around youngsters. He said that they have introduced young blood in the team, adding that he does not want to give 100 percent guarantee that they would win, The Express Tribune reported.

Afridi said that head coach Waqar Younis and he have a few plans and combinations to try out in the three games including the New Zealand series.

The all-rounder is also banking on the form and match fitness of the players who represented Lions in India. Former captain Muhammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz and Saad Nasim were vital members of the Lahore outfit.

Afridi said that they are counting on the players who featured in the CLT20, adding that Nasim is one youngster who possesses the talent to do well at this level. Similarly, he said that Awais Zia and Raza Hasan's return is also going to help the team.