Flamboyant all rounder Shahid Afridi is keen to emulate Andrew Flintoff and play a decisive role for Pakistan in the Test series against England.
"Flintoff is a fantastic performer and made great contributions to the England team in the last year. I am hoping to match his feats in this series," Afridi said on Thursday.
The 25-year-old made his debut for Pakistan at 16 and holds the record for the fastest one-day century scored off 37 balls in Nairobi against Sri Lanka in 1997. He said he now wants to establish himself as a permanent member of Pakistan's Test squad.
"I have played just 19 Tests all these years and it does not satisfy me as a professional. Flintoff is someone who has made impressive progress with bat and ball and is now a certain selection in England Test and one-day squads. I want to be like him."
Afridi has scored 1,198 runs and taken 35 wickets in his 19 tests. Flintoff has scored 2,691 runs and taken 150 wickets in 53 Tests for England.
Afridi who also holds the record for scoring the second fastest hundred in one-day internationals, said he is more comfortable batting at the number six position in Test matches.
"I feel more relaxed at that position but if my team needs me to open and there is a crisis of openers than I have no choice but to say yes," he said.
Afridi has been tried several times as an opener in Test cricket with some limited success but on Pakistan's last series in the West Indies in May he scored a hundred in Barbados in the middle order.
The dashing batsman is also expected to bat lower down the order in the first Test against England in Multan starting on Saturday.
Afridi said he has been working very hard on his bowling in the nets as he felt he could play an important role in the coming series with his fast leg spinners.
"I think the pitches in this series especially the one in Multan are going to suit my style of bowling as there is going to be bounce in the these tracks," he added.
