Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has criticised Indian gamers after the match opener of the World Championship of Legends in Edgbaston was cancelled on Sunday. The official cancellation from WCL got here after a number of Indian gamers determined to withdraw from the match in view of the geopolitical tensions between the 2 nations.
Reviews recommend gamers together with Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan determined to tug out following public backlash over the Pahalgam assaults and heightened hostilities within the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.
Whereas these gamers didn’t formally affirm their withdrawal, former India batter Shikhar Dhawan posted a press release on social media sharing an e mail he had despatched to organisers, informing them of his determination to not take part within the conflict in opposition to Pakistan.
Shahid Afridi on India – Pakistan match cancellation:
In the meantime, Afridi launched a scathing assault on Indian gamers whereas speaking to the media. He stated, “We’re right here to play cricket, and I’ve at all times stated that cricket must be evaded politics — it ought to transfer ahead. A participant must be a very good ambassador, not a supply of embarrassment for his or her nation.”
Afridi famous that if Indian gamers didn’t need to play cricket in opposition to Pakistan they need to have refused to take action earlier than the staff arrived.
“We have come right here to play cricket. If [India] did not need to play in opposition to Pakistan, they need to’ve refused earlier than coming right here. However now you have arrived, even held follow periods, after which immediately modified all the things in a single day,” Afridi added.
The previous Pakistan captain additionally hoped that sports activities would result in nearer relations between the 2 nations. He stated, “Sports activities carry individuals nearer, but when politics will get concerned in all the things, how will we transfer ahead? Till we sit collectively and talk about points, nothing will enhance — lack of communication solely makes issues worse,”
“We have come right here to play cricket, to have one-on-one interactions and pleasant conversations. However typically, there’s one dangerous egg that spoils all the things for everybody else.” Afridi additional said
Some media experiences had urged that it was Afridi’s prescence that had irked the Indian gamers. Notably, Afridi had made a controversial comment in opposition to the Indian military proper after the Pahalgam assault which had sparked widespread outrage in opposition to the cricketer in India.
Answering a query about his prescence being a ache level, Afridi stated, “If I had recognized the match was being stopped due to me, I would not have even gone to the bottom. However cricket ought to go on. What’s Shahid Afridi in entrance of cricket? Nothing,” he stated.
