Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi has turned down a $ 50,000 offer to play in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League after the franchise who had shown interest in him significantly reduced the initial proposal made to the flamboyant all-rounder.
“Afrdi was offered 50,000 dollars for the contract but he rejected it pointing out that initially the same franchise had offered him $ 150,000 and he would not accept less now,” a source close to Afridi said.
St. Lucia franchise had approached Afridi to play for them in the inaugural edition after losing an overseas signing due to injury.
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“Afridi’s contention was that when the initial offer was made to him he turned it down because he had a three year contract with the Sri Lankan Premier league which is not being held this year,” he said.
“But his stance is that if the St Lucia team wanted to sign him now they should have paid him the original offer made to him.”
Afridi is currently part of the Pakistani team who is playing West Indies in a limited-overs series.
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Afridi has hit form on the tour and was man of the match in the first ODI and also in the first T20 international played on Saturday.
The franchise after failing in its negotiations with Afridi then offered the same amount to Pakistan captain, Misbah0-ul-Haq who accepted it and will play in the inaugural Caribbean League.
“Misbah was an obvious second choice because of his recent form although ironically the Pakistani selectors don’t consider him for T20 cricket now,” the source said.
Other Pakistani players appearing in the league include T20 captain Muhammad Hafeez, former skipper Shoaib Malik and young batsmen Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad.
Icon players Malik and Hafeez are reportedly being paid $ 150,000 each by their franchises.
The league will be played from July 30 to August 24.