DHAKA: Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi called for the revival of cricketing ties between India and his country, saying the game can bring improvement in the relations between the two countries.
“The way I enjoyed my cricket in India, I never enjoyed anywhere else. We are after all neighbours. The relations should be good between us. Cricket can only help better the relations,” he said here on Thursday.
Asked whether India and Pakistan should play more often, he said, “It should be like that. Pakistan have always supported India at every step. Despite threats, Pakistan have always toured India. I think cricket can only revive India-Pakistan relation. Sport brings friendship.”
Afridi had hit two sixes in the last over to seal a thrilling one-wicket win for Pakistan against India in yet another thrilling match between the two arch rivals in the Asia Cup on March 1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Asked about Pakistan players’ prospect of playing in the cash-rich Indian Premier League, Afridi said, “Ask your Indian government, why ask me?”
Afridi was all praise for Indian skipper MS Dhoni for the team’s recent successes.
“No doubt, the way Dhoni carries his team forward is commendable… I always praise Dhoni’s captaincy. Credit goes to Dhoni for having the right combination in the side,” he said.
“But I think if a player clicks on a given day, it’s his day. India-Pakistan matches have always been close ones. Nobody had a clue who’s winning the match. People also enjoy these sort of matches.”
He said he always liked to play pressure-free while batting.
“If I think about the shots, then I won’t be able to perform. I just back my instincts.”
Asked about the current Pakistani support staff, he said, “It was different earlier, it’s not that it was not good. It was better earlier so also today. The support team that we have now are all knowledgeable and keeps you positive.”
In a thrilling last over finish against India, Afridi smashed Ravichandran Ashwin for two sixes in the last over to seal a one-wicket victory on March 1, much the similar way Javed Miandad had done against Chetan Sharma in a Sharjah humdinger in 1986.
But after that Miandad heroics, Pakistan had suffered a string of defeats against India. Asked whether it will have the same effect this time around also, he said (with a smile), “It’s up to the Indian team how do they take these sixes)…”
Afridi further said he was looking forward to doing well in the 2015 World Cup 2015. “Obviously, the World Cup 2015 is going to be a huge thing for me and my team.”
Incidentally, it was in Australia, Pakistan had tasted their lone World Cup triumph in 1992.
“There’s a lot of time to go for 2015. We have a lot of big series coming up. The management is supporting, if we continue to have the right kind of combination, and with God’s blessings, we hope to win the World Cup,” Afridi said.
Afridi also feels that with their performance in the Asia Cup, Pakistan have raised hopes for regaining the upcoming World T20 title.
“I’ve already mentioned how important this tournament is for us. The World Twenty20 is coming up after this and I think we peaked at the right time. That was the requirement,” he said.
Afridi’s fiery knocks of 34 not out and 59 against India and Bangladesh respectively, lifted Pakistan from difficult situations to seal their place in the final of the Asia Cup.
Afridi pointed out that against India, everything clicked in Pakistan’s favour. (PTI)