KARACHI, April 12: Pakistan’s charismatic and destructive all-rounder, Shahid Afridi, has decided to skip Test cricket and will reconsider his future participation in the purest form of the game after the World Cup 2007 to be played in West Indies early next year.

“I have taken this important decision after considering all aspects and repercussions. My decision is personal and my own. I intend to concentrate solely on the World Cup 2007,” Shahid told Dawn on Monday.

“For the past several months I have been unable to enjoy the rigours of Test cricket and could not concentrate on the job. After the World Cup I will decide my future as Test player,” explained Afridi who has done well in both versions of cricket.

A great crowd-puller, Afridi, revealed that he had already intimated his decision to skipper Inzamamul Haq and some of his teammates as well as his family members and close friends. He also dismissed suggestions that there was fitness problem.

“I am in great physical shape and will do my best for the two-match series in Abu Dhabi and hopefully if selected for ODIs against England later this year”.

Afridi’s decision rules out the all-rounder of the England’s four Tests series during July-August later this year.

He will also not be available for selection against West Indies and the tour of South Africa before the game’s mega event in the Caribbean.

The all-rounder who burst into the world cricket scene when he became household name by hammering the fastest one-day international century off merely 37 deliveries against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996 claimed that he was mentally and physically better prepared for ODIs.

Batting and fielding averages

Class M I NO Runs Hs Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s ct st

Tests 24 43 1 1634 156 38.90 1901 85.95 5 8 209 48 10 0

ODIs 222 213 9 4824 109 23.64 4458 108.20 4 26 454 215 8 0

First-class 86 147 4 4624 164 32.33 --- --- 11 22 --- --- 55 00

List A 291 280 11 6786 112 25.22 --- --- 5 41 --- --- 96 0

Twenty20 5 5 0 66 25 13.19 41 160.97 0 0 --- --- 0 0

Bowling averages

Class M Balls Runs Wkts bbi bbm Ave Econ Sr 4s 5s 10s

Tests 24 2735 1436 44 5/52 5/43 32.63 3.15 62.15 1 1 0

ODIs 222 8593 6638 184 5/11 5/11 36.07 4.63 46.70 2 2 0

First-class 86 10360 5345 184 6/101 --- 29.04 3.09 56.30 --- 6 0

List A 291 11735 9003 260 5/11 5/11 34.62 4.60 45.13 3 3 0

ppTwenty20 5 99 118 3 2/29 2/29 39.33 7.15 33.00 0 0 0