Pakistan’s flamboyant allrounder Shahid Afridi is in a hurry to join the Deccan Chargers and will leave for India shortly after the Twenty20 against Bangladesh Sunday.

Afridi confirmed he would be leaving in time to play his team’s second game against Delhi DareDevils on April 22.

“I will miss tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) match against Kolkata Knight Riders due to my commitments with Pakistan but I am keen to play in the second match,” Afridi said.

The rest of the Pakistan players signed up to play in the IPL will leave by Thursday as they want to spend a few days with their families before going to India.

Mohammad Hafeez, who is not in the Pakistan team, played for the Calcutta team in the inaugural IPL match Friday.

Bravo joins meet

West Indian allrounder Dwayne Bravo has become the latest star to join the Indian Premier League. Bravo will play for Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians team. Bravo will miss next week’s Caribbean Challenge Shield final against Jamaica but Trinidad and Tobago team manager Colin Borde feels the experience Bravo gains in the IPL will benefit the national team in the long run.

Meanwhile, Mark Ramprakash Friday became the second English cricketer to turn down an IPL offer.