Pakistan hope Afridi is fit for Asia Cup final

Associated Press
Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, left, and Ahmed Umar Gul stretch during a team practice session in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, March 7, 2014. Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final match on Saturday. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad)

MIRPUR, Bangladesh (AP) — Defending champion Pakistan is hoping big-hitting allrounder Shahid Afridi will be fit in time to play in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Afridi, who helped pull off two dramatic last-over wins with an 18-ball 34 against India and a 25-ball 59 against Bangladesh, has a hip strain because caused him to miss training on Friday.

Pakistan manager Zakir Khan says Afridi is responding well to treatment and they are "analyzing and assessing" everything before making a late decision on whether he'll play.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq says the morale of his team is high after winning two close games and hopes to "continue playing positive and good cricket."

Sri Lanka come into the final unbeaten, including a 12-run win over Pakistan in the tournament opener. Misbah says the team has plans for all the top Sri Lankans, including in-form batsman Kumar Sangakkara.