However given the long-standing tensions between the two countries, his comments were not so welcome back in Pakistan.
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Their preparations were undermined further earlier this week when captain Shahid Afridi defended comments he made over the adulation he receives in India.
“If you take my words positively, in my opinion it doesn’t mean that there is anything bigger than Pakistan or anything bigger than the Pakistani people for me”.
Shahid Afridi was running a fever in the morning, Pakistani team manager Intikhab Alam said. “My whole identity comes from Pakistan”.
“What Shahid Afridi said, he has obviously got reactions in Pakistan, but I look at it as a good way to ensure less hostility towards the Pakistan team”. We are here to play cricket, we are here to beat the other teams, and we are here to play positively.
Asked whether there was anything wrong with Afridi’s statement, the former pacer answered, “I didn’t find anything controversial”.
“There are cricket-loving people here, much like in Pakistan”. After finally arriving in India for World T20, Afridi and all-rounder Shoaib Malik said that they had always enjoyed playing in the host nation and had received more love and affection than Pakistan.
“They may be cautious while chatting with the media exclusively while visiting India and are mature participants”, Khan said.. “He gets a good reception in India and he was just expressing his feelings”.
“We have always enjoyed playing in India and have been loved by Indian crowds more than crowds back home in Pakistan”.
His comments drew a scathing response from Miandad. Miandad in fact said that players making such statements should be ashamed of themselves. “Taskin was tested in the morning, he will join us in the evening”, said Mashrafe.
He added, “What have the Indians given us?” Now the fans are even more excited to watch the India-Pakistan match which is scheduled to take place on March 19.
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“We got a lot of love here, we did not get this much love even in Pakistan, I can tell you”. The Pakistan Cricket Board posted the audio statement of the player on its Twitter handle on Tuesday.
