Sports should be used to improve Pak-India relations: Shahid Afridi

GENEVA: Shahid Afridi has called for sports to be used as a tool to improve relations between India and Pakistan. Cricket has been one of the causalities of the volatile relations between the neighbouring countries, who have not engaged in a full bilateral series since 2007.

Afridi drew on his recent experience of playing alongside Indians in an exhibition Ice Cricket tournament in Switzerland, suggesting that cricket could play a role in melting the ice.

“Due to lack of international cricket between the two countries, we now play either in the ICC tournaments or the events such as Ice Cricket,” Afridi told Wisden India.

“I believe politics should be kept away from sports. It should rather be used as a tool to improve relations between the countries. Sport is something which can play a big role in bringing peace.”

Afridi captained the Royals in a series of two 20-over matches played at 1800 metres above sea level and in below zero degrees Celsius temperatures in St Moritz, Switzerland. The Indian players who featured in the event were Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Zaheer Khan, Joginder Sharma, Ajit Agarkar and Ramesh Powar.

Afridi and Sehwag also brought back memories of Indo-Pak cricket when they squared off in a T10 tournament in Sharjah in December last year.

“It was nice to meet and play with players from India after a long time,” Afridi reminisced. “That was something very positive about the tournament and I think it should continue. Both countries should also be playing international cricket against each other.

“The overall experience of ice cricket was quite interesting. It was very cold. Initially, we didn’t even feel the touch of bat and ball on our hands but later we got used to with it.”

While India and Pakistan continue to meet in ICC and Asia Cup events, they have not had a full bilateral series since Pakistan’s tour to India for three Tests and five One-Day Internationals at the end of 2007.

There was another short limited-overs series in India in 2012-13 but in the following five years, the teams have not met outside of World Cups, World T20s or Asia Cups.

The subcontinental giants are unlikely to play against each other anytime soon outside of such tournaments. However, there is the possibility that players from the two nations will turn out for the same side in an international match at Lord’s on May 31 when Windies take on a Rest of the World XI in a fundraiser T20 game.

The match, to be played to generate funds for the restoration of cricket grounds in the Caribbean that were damaged by hurricanes last year, has been granted international status by cricket’s apex body.

Since Pakistan will be busy in a Test series in the UK at that time, non-Test players such as Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman could get a call-up. Even though he is retired from international cricket, Afridi might make an unexpected comeback to international cricket if picked for the one-off T20I at Lord’s.

“I don’t have details about the match but if there is an offer, I will consider it,” he said.

The flamboyant batsman is gearing up for the third edition of the Pakistan Super League, where he will be representing Karachi Kings for the first time.

Even two years after his retirement from international cricket, Afridi continues to dazzle in domestic leagues. As recently as in December last year, he took 15 wickets in eight games for Dhaka Dynamites in the Bangladesh Premier League. Prior to that, he scored his maiden T20 hundred, off just 42 balls, for Hampshire in the quarterfinal of England’s domestic 20-over competition at Hove.

“The last couple of seasons in the leagues have been good for me. Sometimes I go months without cricket, therefore before an event, I have to put in the extra yards to get myself ready for cricket.

“I have started to practice for the PSL. I have reduced my other activities and am focusing more on the PSL. Hopefully, the upcoming season will be good for me.”

PSL 2018 will start on February 22 in the UAE and finish off on March 25 in Pakistan. The two eliminators and the final of the tournament will be played in Lahore and Karachi respectively.

Although Lahore has played host to a fair few international matches and a PSL final in recent years, Karachi will see a high-profile cricket match for the first time since the Test involving Sri Lanka in 2009.

“The situation in Pakistan is much better now,” said Afridi. “It’s good to know that cricket is returning to Pakistan.

“This year, there will be two playoffs in Lahore and then the final in Karachi. It’s going to be a huge moment for the people of Karachi. It’s a positive sign and message to the world.”