Politically incorrect: BCCI.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi has again landed in yet another controversy by talking about Kashmir.
During Pakistan’s match against New Zealand at Mohali on Tuesday, Afridi said that a lot of Kashmiri people were there to support his team. He was responding to a question asked by commentator Rameez Raja.
When some people cheered Afridi during the toss, Raja asked him “it seems you have a bit of fan following here in Mohali.”
“Yes, a lot of people, a lot of people are here from Kashmir as well. And I want to thank people of Kolkata, they really support us as well,” Afridi replied.
This provoked the Indian cricket board and on Wednesday, the BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said that his statement was politically incorrect.
“To give a statement like that is not politically correct. A player should stay away from all this. That’s the reason why he was criticized in Pakistan,” Thakur said.
Pakistan lost the match against New Zealand at Punjab Cricket Association stadium, Mohali.
Before the beginning of the world cup, Afridi had drawn criticism in Pakistan for saying that he and his team received more love in India than in Pakistan.
Afridi is likely to lose his captaincy once the world cup tournament is over. Pakistan Cricket Board officials had indicated this a few days back.
He has also indicated that he may retire from 20-20 cricket after the upcoming match against Australia.
“That (the match against Australia) could be my last,” he said at the post-match ceremony at Mohali.