ICC World Twenty20: Pakistan media annoyed with Shahid Afridi's ‘love for India’
Action against the Pakistani skipper seems unlikely.
Pakistan's T-20 captain Shahid Afridi's -"love for India-" has not gone down well with the Pakistani media.
“I've not enjoyed playing anywhere as much as I have in India,-" Afridi, in his first press conference after landing in India, said in Kolkata on Sunday.
-"I am in the last stage of my career and I can say that the love I have got in India is something that I will always remember. We have not got this much love even from Pakistan.-"
There are cricket-loving people here, much like in Pakistan. Overall, I've enjoyed a lot playing in India in my cricketing career.-"
The Pakistani media is annoyed with Afridi's recent remarks.
-"In last World Cup he (Afridi) was saying: India walon ke dil chhote hain. (Indians have no love for us). Indians have no hearts like Muslims and Pakistanis. It is a very difficult thing for us to live with them (Indians) or to have long-term relations with them,-" one of the TV reporters says from Pakistan. He should have been careful with his words but he has been careless,-" another TV journalist (Asif) said from Karachi.
Shoaib Malik, who is married to India's tennis player Sania Mirza, saw no difference between fans of both countries. -"I don't really see any difference between Pakistani people and the Indians. We eat the same food, we speak the same language. I don't really see any difference. I am very happy to be in India. I have always got a lot of love from people and from media.-"
The PCB, however, is unlikely to take any action against Afridi regarding this issue.
-"What can be done These words came out instantly from his mouth,-" a member of the team staff, said.
-"I don't think any action will be taken on Afridi for these comments,-" he said.
The strict disciplinarian Intikhab Alam has been given all powers (by the PCB) to take disciplinary action on the players who try to break the harmony of the team-spirit.
The team is satisfied with the security accorded to the team.
-"We are made comfortable here,-" one of the team members said.
The team was provided lunch in the Etihad Airways aircraft (EU 256) on Saturday. They had a long stay in Abu Dhabi before boarding a direct flight to Kolkata.
-"The pilot greeted the team at the aircraft. However, there was no welcome announcement by him during the journey,-" the source added.
-"The chief pilot many a times doesn't announce this,” he said.
