Afridi cuts short SLPL stint following wife's illness

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan allrounder, has cut short his Sri Lanka Premier League campaign and returned to Karachi following a health issue with his wife. He was playing for Ruhuna Royals and was originally to stay with them until Saturday, before joining the Pakistan squad in Dubai for the limited-overs series against Australia.

"Everything is fine now and I will be in the UAE on time (on August 26) to join the squad," Afridi told ESPNcricinfo.

"He had to rush back home to see his wife," an SLPL organiser told ESPNcricinfo. "He was never meant to complete the tournament so anyway he has only missed one match."

Ruhuna, currently fifth in the SLPL table, are almost out of the reckoning for a place in the semi-finals. Afridi scored 54 in three innings and picked up two wickets.

Afridi had initially been named the international icon player for the Nagenahira franchise but was withdrawn as the franchises wanted to make sure their icon players were available throughout the tournament.