Less of the Boom Boom Shahid. Pakistan’s tumultuous tour of England finished with a 121-run thrashing at the Rose Bowl last night, meaning the tourists fly home this morning on the end of a three nil series reverse (in all forms of the game) and a begrudging feeling trickling away about the current plight and integrity of Pakistani cricket amid scandal of betting allegations, corruption and match fixing.

In retrospect now the baton is passed over to the respective anti-corruption units and cricketing boards to fix the inner sanctums of a sport which has had its insides, twisted, turned and rapidly removed.

But to focus on cricketing sentiments and the Rose Bowl looked a picture last night in spirited mid-September sunshine with the ground seemingly ticking all the boxes, once again, for staging an international match seamlessly.

One player who is yet to experience Hampshire’s home in a domestic light is Pakistani one-day skipper Shahid Afridi. The explosive all-rounder had agreed to don Hampshire Royals colours in this season’s Friends Provident t20 cup earlier in the summer, but pulled out of the deal when he made a dramatic u-turn to jump back into the Test arena.

This compounded a miserable first half to the season for the Royals who amid a catalogue of injuries, failed overseas signings and poor form, meant they were stuck in a considerable rut.

Afridi’s revisit to the Test fold, as Captain, ended in disastrous fashion when he quit the post after just one game in a Lords defeat citing his failure to adapt his style to the games longer format as a key downturn, in a playing career founded on short-form exertions.

Whether or not, his contract break at the Rose Bowl annoyed the club’s hierarchy remains unfounded but the 30 year-old, who has the highest strike rate in World one-day cricket , hinted at a possible return visit to ‘his second home (England)’ next season.

But, should Hampshire enlist themselves among his potential suitors? Well, on recent form and impact, Afridi’s previous and reputation is the only guiding light in an international career which is not what it was.

A first ball duck yesterday, chopping onto his stumps off the bowling of impresario off-spinner Graeme Swann when trying a stroke to guide the ball down to third man, compounded the misery for a player whose thinking and interpretation of when to undertake a certain hit or play on the cricket field seem sordid.

This is why Hampshire do not need the travelled, but popular figure. OK, on his day, perhaps he can produce a piece of sublime intervention in turn to bringing in near capacity crowds (from time to time) but with Hampshire’s strength in experience and youth in the batting department as a t20 side, the possible acquisition of Afridi would be a burden of irrational nonsense. The outstanding Jimmy Adams, England hopeful Michael Carberry, the return again of Michael Lumb from injury, and the explosive and clean hitting of Sean Ervine and young prodigy James Vince, respectively gives reason for optimism without splashing out on an expensive overseas import.

It’s obviously not just batting which Afridi brings to the table, but his pacey spin too. At times the Pakistani’s bowling can be an impressive weapon, however with youngster Danny Briggs and the return of Imran Tahir to the Rose Bowl next season this limits a future role once more.

It must be said, no noises of yet have echoed out of Rod Bransgrove’s financial war chest suggesting they will be back in the market for Afridi. The man can conduct brilliance and charismatic character at times; nevertheless there should be a cross in the box against his signing next summer.