'I will play T20s against Aussies'

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is confident of recovering in time from a side strain before the two Twenty20 internationals against Australia.

Afridi said he would be available for the T20 matches as his injury was not a serious one.

"I know how important it is for me to play in these matches not only as captain but as a senior player," he said.

Afridi suffered the side strain during the three-day match against Kent and the initial scans have shown that he has a small muscle rupture.

The flamboyant all-rounder will not play the T20 matches against Essex and Northamptonshire on Saturday and Sunday due to the same injury.

The Pakistan team management will re-assess Afridi's recovery again before the matches against Australia.

Sources said Afridi's injury at the initial stage of the trip was a worry for the team management as the tour would last until September with six Tests, five one-day internationals and two more T20 matches lined up.

Afridi has been in red-hot form these days and scored two centuries in the recent Asia Cup in Sri Lanka although Pakistan could not reach the final of the tournament.