Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi recently asked ‘educated nations’ to not follow India in its approach to touring. He further claimed Pak team got threats on India tours but the team followed the board’s advice and toured anyway.
Afridi’s explosive comments come after New Zealand cricket team called off its tour in Pakistan due to security threat. What irked several Pakistani cricketers more, was the fact that the Kiwis called off the tours just hours before the first ODI was set to be played.
Earlier last month, Afridi had created controversy after saying that the Taliban had come with a “positive frame of mind” to Afghanistan. He had also claimed that the militant organization ‘loves cricket’.
Details
Known for his explosive batting on the field, Shahid Afridi has also made a name for himself for his explosive comments. The former Pakistan captain has in the past sparked row thanks to his comments spewed towards team India and Indian players.
From claiming that Indian players aren’t as “large hearted”, to claiming that Sachin Tendulkar was afraid of Shoaib Akhtar, Afridi has done it all.
Recently, after the Kiwis pulled out of Pakistan due to security threats, Afridi made some questionable comments and has sparked a row. Here are the facts of the matter.
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The Facts of the Matter
After the unforeseen New Zealand tour of Pakistan cancellation, several Pakistan cricketers are left disappointed. Recently, Shahid Afridi spoke about the matter and claimed that the acts of Kiwi were ‘unforgivable’.
For the unversed, New Zealand was set to lock horns with Pakistan in the latter’s country. However, just hours before the first ODI, the black-caps announced that they had called off the tour. The Kiwis cited ‘security threat’ reports. Soon, England cricket board also called off the tour to Pakistan for both its men’s and women’s team.
New Zealand Should’ve Been Patient: Afridi
Obviously irked by the sudden domino’s falling, Afridi claimed that Kiwis should’ve also been patient with calling off the series. The former Pak skipper said that the country had taken steps to ensure that the security of the players remained uncompromised and the series took place safely.
Cricket Pakistan quoted Afridi saying, “We all know that there is a huge amount of scrutiny when it comes to arranging tours. Proper investigations are conducted by the security members of the touring nation. The routes are defined and only when the process is completed, that is when the teams are given the green signal to visit the country.”
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“New Zealand Should’ve Consulted PCB Before Cancelling Tour”
Over the course of the past few years, New Zealand has emerged as one of the most loved and appreciated teams in the world. Afridi reiterated the notion and claimed that Kiwi cricketers are loved in his country and the cancellation of tour was “unforgivable”. He further stated that any potential threats should’ve been shared with the Pakistan cricket board and the security forces.
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“One Country is After Pakistan”: Afridi’s Sly Reference to India
Interestingly, Afridi also stated just because ‘one country is after Pakistan’, other ‘educated countries must not follow the suit and make the same mistake. “If you have to look at the bigger picture then I think we need to take a decision which shows the world that we are also a country and we have our pride. It’s ok if one country is behind us but I don’t think other countries should also make the same mistake. They are all educated nations and should not follow India,” Afridi said.
Afridi Claimed Pak Toured India Despite Receiving Threats
In his interview, he also spoke about the times when Pakistan toured India despite reported security threats. He claimed that despite getting threats, the team toured India as the Pakistan cricket board asked them to do so. Further, he said that during COVID-19, England was grappling with the infections, and yet cricket continued “If you trust false e-mails and cancel tours then I believe you are offering them fodder to win. This is not the right way,” he added.
