Karachi, Jun 24 (IANS): Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi will decide his Test future after the exhaustive tour of England that begins this month.
Afridi Thursday said he will review his personal performance in the six Tests Pakistan will play against Australia and England later this season, before deciding whether to continue playing in the longest format of the game.
"I will take a decision at the end of the England tour," Afridi was quoted as saying in The News.
Afridi last played a Test almost four years ago in Manchester and was reluctant to return to the Test squad in order to remain focused on limited-overs cricket.
However, the country’s cricket authorities convinced him to come out of Test exile and lead Pakistan in all three formats.
Afridi, 30, says the World Cup will be his prime focus as Pakistan captain. He wants to be in top gear for the quadrennial spectacle to be hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in March.
The all-rounder said he will keep all options open after the tour of England that will include back-to-back series against Australia and England July 5-Sep 23.
"I’ll see whether my body will allow me to continue playing in all three formats after the tour of England. It’s a long tour, and will be followed by a lot of Tests and one-dayers before the World Cup.
"I want to be perfectly fit for the World Cup because it’s my dream that we win it like we did in 1992."
Pakistan will host South Africa in a home series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the tour of England.
Some critics fear that Afridi might not be able to impress much in Test cricket after staying away from it for four years.
Ricky Ponting, Afridi’s Australian counterpart, also raised doubts about the Pakistan skipper in an interview earlier this month and said that his bowlers will dismiss him easily.
"If you read between the lines he’s almost in there as that leader and captain, not necessarily one of their best Test players," said Ponting.
"So we’ll test him out. Even in the one dayers in Australia last season with our quick bowling the way they did to him, I think we can sort him out in Test cricket for sure."
Afridi, however, is confident that he will make a successful Test return against Australia next month.
"He (Ponting) may think whatever he likes but I’m confident about my batting and am looking forward to playing Test cricket again," said Afridi, who has scored 1,683 runs at 37.40 in 26 Tests.
Afridi's confidence springs from a prolific performance in the Asia Cup in which he hit two stunning centuries in three matches.
"The centuries have come at a perfect time," he said. "It’s great to be in form ahead of such an important tour."
Pakistan is currently training in Colombo after failing to qualify for Thursday’s Asia Cup final. They will leave for England June 26 and will play a series of warm-up games before taking on Australia in a series-opening Twenty20 International on July 5.