Pakistan T20I captain Shahid Afridi has clarified about his controversial comment, “We are loved by Indian crowds more than crowds back home in Pakistan”. Afridi has faced huge criticism from the Pakistan fans and former cricketers for commentating like that.
On Monday, Afridi stated, “I am not just the captain of Pakistan’s cricket team I am representing the whole country here. The one statement I gave recently should be taken as positive.”
He added, “I did not mean to say that someone is dear to me more than Pakistan’s people. My identity and everything I have belong to Pakistan.
“I was asked a question here in (the) media and I just wanted to give a positive reply to the people in the world who hear us. I just wanted to say that whenever we are here [in India] we always enjoy (it).
“Even if you ask the former greats such was Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan they all will say the same thing. People in India worship cricket and it is like a religion here.
Afridi added further, “I just wanted to give a positive message to the world in a diplomatic way that we people love cricket and want to play it.
“It is the sport that many times has helped India and Pakistan in improving the ties, therefore, I just wanted to be positive.
“But if someone will take it as a negative comment he will draw a negative conclusion too.”
Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has also backed Afridi saying, “The players get emotional sometimes. He gets a good reception in India and he was just expressing his feelings.”
Pakistan is in India to play WT20 2016 where they fill face India, Bangladesh, Australia and New Zealand. Pakistan will begin their WT20 journey on 16th March against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata while they will face India on 19th March at the same ground.