LAHORE – Days after winning the hearts of numerous Indian fans with his remarks after his team’s loss in the World Cup semifinal, Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has said Indians are not as large-hearted as Pakistanis.
Afridi also slammed the Indian media for its “very negative approach” and said the Pakistani media was a “hundred times better” than its Indian counterpart. “In my opinion, if I have to tell the truth, they (Indians) will never have hearts like Muslims and Pakistanis. I don’t think they have the large and clean hearts that Allah has given us,” Afridi said during a talk show when he was asked about relations between the two countries.
“We don’t want to fight with each other but a third country – everyone knows which one it is – is trying to spoil our relations. (This country) is taking advantage of Pakistan and wants to take advantage of India. I don’t want to go into details but these people will not let us come together,” he added. Asked about the Indian media’s coverage of the Pakistani team during the semifinal with India at Mohali on March 30, Afridi replied: “The Indian media has a very negative approach and very negative thoughts. The people may not be like that but I think the media had a very dirty role in spoiling relations between us and India.”
“Our media, which is criticised by people, is hundred times better than theirs,” he said. India beat Pakistan in the semifinal, which was watched by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, who used cricket diplomacy to boost the peace process between the two sides. Afridi also criticised Interior Minister Rehman Malik for warning the Pakistani team not to get involved in match-fixing and Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who vowed to dedicate victory in the World Cup final to victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
“I think they were both very stupid comments by Rehman Malik and Gautam Gambhir…I wasn’t expecting this from Gautam…This is all politics, what do you know about who carried out the Bombay attacks?” he said. Sohail slams Afridi: Former Pakistan skipper Aamir Sohail on Monday criticised captain Shahid Afridi for his comments that Indians are “not as large-hearted as Pakistanis”, saying that the staement was “immaturish and untimely”.
Afridi had said after reaching home following Pakistan’s semifinal exit from the World Cup that it would be very difficult for Pakistanis to live with Indians or to have long-term relationship with them. Sohail said Afridi should not have made these remarks just after the goodwill generated in the aftermatch of the India-Pakistan semifinal clash at Mohali and he should respect each individual.
“I think Afridi should not have made such comments. You got to respect every individual. His statement is kind of immaturish and at the same time untimely,” Sohail said. Afridi had also criticised Indian media for its “negative approach” but Sohail said media has a certain role to play.
Afridi ready to tour West Indies
KARACHI – Pakistan’s limited overs cricket captain Shahid Afridi has made himself available for the tour of West Indies after previously opting for a break. “Earlier I had decided to skip the tour because I wanted to take a well deserved rest from the game, but some former players and my family and friends told me to change my decision at this crucial time for Pakistan cricket,” Afridi said on Monday.
Afridi, 31, who has played 320 one-day internationals, led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the recent World Cup where they lost to eventual winners India. The seasoned all-rounder, who finished with 21 wickets in the tournament, said he wanted a break from cricket but the upcoming tour was an ideal opportunity to groom two or three new players. “That is why I want to be part of the team on the coming tour and carry on the momentum we got from the World Cup,” he said.
Afridi revealed the morale of the players was boosted by the warm welcome they received on returning from the World Cup hosted in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “It is an indication that Pakistan cricket is on the right track and on the coming tours to West Indies and Zimbabwe we can form an ideal one-day combination,” he added. The Pakistan team will play a Twenty20 match against West Indies on April 21, then five ODIs and two tests.
Indications from the national selectors suggest they plan to rest some of the senior players for the limited over matches in the Caribbean and try out new players who have performed well in domestic cricket. Reuters
