KARACHI, Jan 26: While four changes are expected in Pakistan’s squad to face South Africa in the coming one-day series, Shahid Afridi’s World Cup hopes are fading away fast.

And since the five-match One-day International series in South Africa is Pakistan’s last assignment before the 2007 World Cup, it is certain that the squad scheduled to be announced on Saturday will give a clear indication as to who will go to the West Indies for the mega event.

According to sources, Afridi is almost certain to be overlooked for selection for the ODI series which starts from Feb 4. The selectors appear unhappy with the casual approach of the flamboyant all-rounder towards cricket.

To be fair to the selectors, they, indeed, have a valid ground here in not picking Afridi. Instead of leading Karachi Harbour in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy to get back into some sort of form, Afridi has opted to spend his time elsewhere.

Afridi, who turns 27 on March 1, has been going through a horrible run of low scores since making 56 at St Lucia in the final ODI of the West Indies tour in May 2005. In the last 23 ODI innings — in which he has batted — Afridi’s best score has been 34 against England at Rawalpindi in December 2005 while the grand total reads an unimpressive 221 (averaging a mere 9.60).

In the light of these statistics, the only chance of Afridi getting a look in would be purely on his acclaimed reputation as a player whose mere presence could make most of the opponents shiver in their boots.

Afridi’s overall record, however, is impressive for a player who generally plays for the gallery. In 234 ODIs, he has scored 4880 runs (ave 22.91) and has picked up 193 wickets (ave 36.40). But the fact is, Afridi has not done justice to his reputation in the past 20 months or so.

Abdul Razzaq, the all-rounder who missed the South Africa Test series because of an injury, is now fit and is certain to make the ODI squad along with slow left-armer Abdur Rehman and pacer Rao Iftikhar.

The selectors are willing to take a big gamble with Shabbir Ahmed. After completing the one-year ICC ban over his illegal bowling action, the big fast bowler was summoned by the team management for the final Test at Cape Town.

But the selectors rejected that call on the grounds that Shabbir was carrying an ankle niggle and would be a risk for the five-day match. However, there are reports emerging that Shabbir is now ‘fully’ fit to resume his chequered international career.

Batsmen Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and medium-pacer Shahid Nazir will return home after the Test series ends next week.

Meanwhile, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal will be rested during the ODI series and will be replaced by his understudy, Zulqarnain Haider. Playing nonstop cricket has taken its toll on Kamran who has had a rough ride since the England tour last year, fumbling routine chances and missing out on simple stumpings.

Probable squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Yasir Hameed, Shabbir Ahmed, Zulqarnain Haider, Rao Iftikhar, Abdur Rehman.