New South Wales to bid for 'boom boom' Afridi

Sydney, June 23 (ANI): New South Wales is planning to target Pakistani batsman Shahid Afridi as its foreign import for next season's domestic Twenty20 competition.

NSW will approach Afridi to join their team with the intention of qualifying him for the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 tournament in 2010, but he could also be used in the Sheffield Shield.

Afridi, 29, guided Pakistan to their first major cricket title in 17 years, when they defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the World Twenty20 final at Lord's on Sunday.

Afridi smashed an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, his second consecutive half-century, to confirm his reputation as a big-match performer.

A Cricket NSW official said Afridi would bring experience and significant ability to the Blues, and the big-hitting star would also be considered for first-class and one-day games, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

"He is clearly one of the world's best Twenty20 players, but also he would be a valuable addition to our dressing room, our young players would learn a lot from him. We would certainly consider if he could be used for other formats," the official said.

If the deal takes place, Afridi would become one of the highest-profile players to join an Australian side.

Afridi would heighten interest in the Big Bash if he played. Regarded as the world's most attacking batsman, he scored 129 runs in his final three innings at the World Cup with a strike rate of 148.27 and was the force behind Pakistan's victory. (ANI)