SPORTS EDGE

Malik, Afridi unlikely?
Pti, Karachi

The embattled Pakistani team may have to take the field in Wednesday's do-or-die Asia Cup match against India without captain Shoaib Malik, who has been laid low by dehydration.Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson said Malik had been in a bad state during the side's loss to Sri Lanka in their previous super-four stage match. Malik did not participate in the team's net session today (Tuesday)."His hotel room is like a hospital ward and when he came off the field against Sri Lanka he was very ill. It is not something to joke about, athletes have died of dehydration so we can't take a risk with his health," Lawson said "Only the doctors will decide whether he can play against India or not. That is for them to decide," he stated.Already mired in controversies related to selection, the team may leave out all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who has so far come a cropper with bat, for Wednesday's match."We are going to make changes in the team because it is a must win situation for us against India. Shahid Afridi, whose batting has not worked, and pacer Wahab Riaz will probably be dropped to accommodate opener Nasir Jamshed and pacer, Abdul Rauf," one selector conceded.