Adelaide, Oct 27 : South Australia have signed Pakistani all rounder Shahid Afridi as the replacement for Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis for the Twenty20 Big Bash this summer.

Southern Redbacks said that Afridi has been signed, as Mendis would be unavailable due to Sri Lanka''s planned tri-series with India and Bangladesh in January.

“We narrowly missed out on finals last season and these signings are definitely a boost to our quest to qualify for the Champions League this year,” The News quoted Jamie Cox, South Australia''s manager, as saying.

South Australia''s Big Bash campaign begins on December 29, when Pakistan will be involved in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

However, Afridi has not played Test cricket since 2006 and is not expected to feature in their Test squad, which would leave him free to take part in the competition. (ANI)