Well-placed sources told ‘Arab News’ here on Sunday that Afridi is seriously concerned over the ‘spot-fixing’ controversy that involves several of his team members and is hoping for a quick solution to the problem.

But the all-rounder, who is hoping to avenge Pakistan’s 1-3 Test series defeat against England by winning the Twenty20 and One-day International series, will talk to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and request for around five to seven players to be included in the touring party in case the issue drags on in the lead-up to the limited-overs series which will kick off in Cardiff from next Sunday.

“Afridi is hoping that the allegations against his teammates will be proved wrong,” said the source. “But he is also concerned over fears that if the investigations into the issue continues for long then it would hurt his team’s chances in the one-day series. That is why he might consider requesting the PCB to put around five to six players on standby so that they can be sent to England from Pakistan ahead of the series.”

Afridi led Pakistan in the first Test against Australia at Lord’s earlier this summer but retired from Test cricket after Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in that Test. He flew back to Pakistan after that Test but returned to London last Friday to get ready for the one-day series.

Four Pakistani players — skipper Salman Butt, pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and vice-captain Kamran Akmal — were named as the main accused while it was alleged in a report by British tabloid News of the World that three other unnamed players were also involved in the spot-fixing scandal.

Sources said that Afridi will soon meet Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, who is currently in London, to discuss the issue with him.

There were even speculations that the PCB together with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could decide to scrap the limited-overs series that will include two Twenty20 Internationals in Cardiff on Sept. 5 and 7 followed by five One-day Internationals from Sept. 10-22.

However, Pakistan Manager Yawar Saeed made it clear at a press conference here at Lord’s on Sunday that the one-day series will take place as scheduled.

“The one-day series is on,” said Yawar after Pakistan lost their fourth and final Test against England.

Yawar said that Pakistan will soon leave for Taunton for a practice game ahead of the two Twenty20 matches in Cardiff.