Shahid Afridi clarifies on comments about India

ByArun S Kaimal,SportsCafe Editor

03/15/2016

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi on Monday clarified on the comments he made about the love he receives in India. Afridi received criticism from the other side of the border with Javed Miandad lashing out at the all-rounder for his comments while a legal notice was also served against him on Monday.

The 36-year old clarified his comments after it caused an uproar in his home country and said that his intention was not to hurt anyone’s feelings.

"I did not mean to say that someone is dear to me more than Pakistan's people," Afridi said.

"My identity and everything I have belong to Pakistan. I was asked a question here in 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 we always enjoy . 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.

"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," Afridi was quoted as saying according to a report on cricket.com.au.

Afridi’s clarification comes after he was served a notice for his alleged anti-Pakistan remarks. As per the notice, the Pakistan captain needs to apologize for his statements and needs to withdraw his statement. Former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad had also lashed out at the Pakistan skipper by saying that “he should be ashamed on his comments”.

Pakistan play India at the Eden Gardens on March 19.

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