3 English County teams are in the running to sign flamboyant Pakistan all rounder Shahid Afridi for next season's Friends Provident Twenty/20 competition.

A deal is expected to be finalised in the second week of January for the in demand Twenty/20 captain of Pakistan, who was one of Pakistan's key performers as they lifted the Twenty/20 World Cup earlier this year.

29 year old Afridi who was described by Geoff Boycott recently as the best one day all rounder in the world, is looking to take part in the whole of the Friends Provident Trophy which is due to be played in June and July of next year. However the Asia Cup schedule is yet to be finalised and this may mean that Afridi is only available for part of the Twenty/20 competition in England.

Afridi is fast becoming a popular choice when it comes to Twenty/20 cricket around the world, having already signed a deal to represent South Australia in the forthcoming Aussie Big Bash and he will also be representing Nashua Dolphins in South Africa's domestic Twenty/20 competition next year. Afridi previously played for Deccan Chargers in the inaugural Indian Premier League and is one of 12 Pakistani players who are expected to be listed in the auction for next year's IPL competition.