Afridi wants Pakistan to stop pushing for series with India

Afridi wants Pakistan to stop pushing for series with India: Swashbuckling allrounder and Pakistan T20I skipper Shahid Afridi is against the cricket board of the country repeatedly trying to persuade India into playing a bilateral series. He wants PCB to stop yelling for a series which might not be possible and instead try and convince other sides to tour Pakistan. The planned series in December between the arch rivals went into jeopardy after the terror attacks in Punjab.

Both countries’ cricket boards had signed an agreement to play at least six times from 2015-2023, after the PCB supported the much debated takeover of the ICC by the ‘Big 3’ – England, Australia and India. The Indian board though needs a NOC from the Government of India if it wishes to revive cricketing ties with the neighbouring nation.

“I don’t know why we are pushing for series against India again and again,” Afridi told reporters in Lahore during Pakistan’s short training camp ahead of next week’s limited-overs tour to Zimbabwe. “I don’t see any reason to play (against India) if they don’t want to play. We have invited them and if they do not want to play then it shouldn’t be any worry, we are still happy” said Afridi.

Only playing the T20Is now, Afridi has already said that the next year’s T20 World Cup in India will be his last tournament in the shortest format. Pakistan selectors have included young left-arm fast bowler Imran Khan Jr. and off spinner Bilal Asif for the two T20Is against Zimbabwe later this month in order to start getting ready for next year’s event in India. Commenting on the move Afridi said “The idea is to try out new players and there are number of players who impressed me in National Twenty20 tournament this week”.

In May this year, Zimbabwe became the first team to tour Pakistan since the horrific terror attack on the Sri Lankan players in 2009. With top level cricket a rare sight in Pakistan Afridi felt it would have been better if the PCB decided to host the inaugural Pakistan Super League at home instead of choosing Qatar and Doha as the venues.

“It would have been great had it been organized in Pakistan because we were talking about revival of cricket in Pakistan after the tour of Zimbabwe. Our players would have benefited more had it been organized in Pakistan. I am not worried whether foreign players come or not, but at least the crowd will come and our own youngsters get an opportunity” he opined.