Pakistan’s Twenty20 worldwide captain Shahid Afridi feels his country’s cricket board should not push for a bilateral series against India if they are not keen to play.
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The cricket fraternity is divided on whether the players should be allowed to make a comeback in the team or not with some suggesting that it would be unfair to the young crickters and will set a bad example, while some believe that they deserve a second chance at redemption. “It seems to be good if our grounds get revived, full of crowds and our personal gamers get the utmost profit out of it”.
With top-level global cricket a rarity in Pakistan, Afridi said it would have been better if the PCB had chose to host next February’s inaugural Twenty20 Pakistan Super League at home instead of choosing Doha, Qatar, as the venue.
“It will look great if cricket grounds of Pakistan filled with crowd and it would also be great if the PSL could have been held in Pakistan”, he said.
“I can’t understand why we are running after India”, Afridi told media during a training camp.
He asked the Pakistan T20 captain to forgive him for his role in the spot-fixing scandal.
India’s last tour of Pakistan was in 2006 and the last test series between the two countries was when India hosted Pakistan in 2007. We have invited them and in the event that they don’t need to play then it should not be a fear.
“There are other bigger teams who we can play because we have invited India many times and if they don’t want to play we are still happy”, he added.
One main requirement of the program is that the trio have to apologise to their former Pakistan teammates and try to convince them to accept them back in their fold. If we give good offers to foreign players I don’t see any reason why they won’t come.
“Obviously no doubt they are a fine side”. I by no means underestimate any group particularly in T20 format as as soon as the sport slips out of your hand it is actually arduous to struggle again. They are playing so well and I have seen their recent performances.
“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.
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“We are getting ready and the series is permitting us to attempt many new faces forward of the World T20. We are going to make a settled side ahead of the World T20”, he added.
