01 July,2010 01:29 PM IST | | Agencies
Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi is confident that he will overcome "a small muscle rupture in his side" to play the opening Twenty20 international against Australia in Birmingham on July 5.u00a0
Afridi suffered the injury during his team's warm-up match against Kent in Canterbury.
"I have to play against Australia in the Twenty20 matches in Birmingham. I'll be there, don't worry about that," PakPassion.net quoted Afridi, as saying.
"The injury is not too serious and I am confident that I will be lining up against Australia next Monday. It's likely that I won't play in the next two warm up matches, as it's best not to take any risks," he added.
Meanwhile, talking about the injury, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said: "He has been asked to rest for two days and have some treatment, then we will reassess things."
Waqar remains hopeful that Afridi will fine for the game.
Pakistan has back-to-back series against Australia and England in England.
The tour includes two Twenty20 games and two Tests against Australia and four Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 games against England.
