Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain and popular all-rounder Shahid Afridi urged authorities not to chase after sporting arch-rival India to play a cricket series against his country, saying his team can play against other sides.
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Earlier this month the Pakistan Cricket Board wrote a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India seeking confirmation as to whether or not India would play a proposed two Tests, five one-day and two Twenty20 matches in the United Arab Emirates in December and January.
But India has so far not replied and current political tension between the two countries has cast serious doubt over the first full series between them since 2007.
“I can’t understand why we are running after India,” Afridi told reporters during a training camp in Lahore on Friday. “There are other bigger teams who we can play because we have invited India many times and if they don’t want to play then it shouldn’t be a worry. We are still happy.”
The proposed series in the UAE was agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two boards last year, but is still pending clearance from New Delhi.
Pakistan paid a short visit to India to play two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals in December 2012 but that failed to revive bilateral ties.
In July BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur had said cricket was not possible under the current strained relationship between the two countries. But Afridi added that people of both countries want to watch an Indo-Pak series.
“The way Pakistan welcomed India was never seen before,” said Afridi of the 2004 visit by India – their first tour in the neighbouring country for 15 years.
Shahid Afridi “If there will be a series between Pakistan and India, in terms of interest it will be bigger than the Ashes” #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) September 18, 2015
“People of both the countries want to watch Indo-Pak contests because it’s a series bigger than the Ashes.”
Afridi said he did not know what the Indian government’s decision will be.
“Pakistan always supported India in difficult times but I don’t know what will be [the] Indian government’s decision and the series depends on their decision,” the all-rounder said.
Meanwhile, Afridi insists they are not taking Zimbabwe lightly in the upcoming limited-overs series to be played in Harare. Pakistan will be playing two T20Is and three ODIs between September 27 and October 5.
“I never underestimate any team especially in T20 format as once the game slips out of your hand it’s really hard to fight back,” he said.
“They are playing so well and I have seen their recent performances. They are in form as a team. Playing at their home ground in their own conditions is always tough. Even the matches in Pakistan, in our home series, we never won them with ease,” he added.
