Afridi to play for Hampshire in English T20

Pakistan's flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi has signed a contract with Hampshire to play in the 2010 English T20 championship.

He said he signed the deal with for a year because of the big Pakistani community in the United Kingdom.

"I enjoy playing in England and I always get big crowd support there. Plus the Pakistan team is also due to play in England this year so it would not be difficult for me to adapt to the conditions there whenever my country needs me," he said.

Afridi is presently in Australia, playing the Big Bash tournament for South Australia and will also play for a provincial side in South Africa's T20 domestic competition.

He said despite his increasing demand in T20 cricket, he is always available to play in any form of the sport for Pakistan.

"I enjoy playing T20 cricket as it is fast paced and exciting and suits my style of play. But that does not mean I don't want to play Test or one-day internationals.

"If the Pakistan team requires my services for the third Test in Hobart I am willing to make myself available immediately for the team," he told a television channel.