Twitter Reactions: Shahid Afridi once again thanks people from Kashmir for their support

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi who was probably playing his last international match couldn’t make it count as his team lost to Australia by 21 runs and with that bowed out of the World T20 semi-finals contention. At the end of the game talking to the presenter Afridi said he didn’t think his team was good enough to beat the best teams that are up in the competition while also keeping his retirement card to himself as he said he would take a call after going back to Pakistan.

In the post match presentation, Shahid Afridi said, “First I would like to congratulate Australia. Honestly speaking, we are not good enough. Bowlers gave too many runs in last 4-5 overs. I’ll go back home and then make a decision [about retirement]. I’ll do what’s best for the country. I will announce this in my country. It’s not easy to handle pressure as Pakistan captain. I want to thank the management, the players, the selection committee and the chairman who have supported me. I want to thank the people of Kolkata who gave us a lot of support. Also want to thank the people of Kashmir who came down for supporting us [huge roar from the crowd]. And thank you to the BCCI for their hospitality as well.”

Afridi had already faced criticism from BCCI Secretary and Member of Parliament of the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Anurag Thakur, who had said ‘a statement like that is not politically correct’ for referring to Kashmir while thanking the crowd that had come in support of the Pakistan team.

Twitter also didn’t quite approve Afridi’s second reference to Kashmir.

I want to thank people from Calcutta. I thank people who came and supported us from Pakistan and Kashmir: Shahid Afridi

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/iamash_007/status/713354373242335233

https://twitter.com/Sitaram_Sinha/status/713354364220342272

Lost the game but thanked the ppl of Kashmir and Burned the BCCI and Indian Media again ?
Badass Afridi
#AUSvPAK

— ^_^ ANAS (@syedanusali) March 25, 2016

Once again Afridi indulges in politics by mentioning Kashmir. This time it seemed a deliberate assertion. An unacceptable proposition.

— BS Bassi (@BhimBassi) March 25, 2016

2100 AD
Retired Children in Kashmir playing gully cricket with @SAfridiOfficial who refuses to retire still! #PoltuLala

— pathikjain (@pathikbawa) March 25, 2016

Afridi #Wt20 stats:
Matches won: 1
Kashmir issue raised: 2#Afridi

— Viraj Deshpande (@criczest) March 25, 2016

Stay back in #Ind for a few days #Pak players. Stones and eggs are awaiting you there. You'll are anyways loved more here ? #AUSvPAK

— Yash Mehta (@yashm3hta) March 25, 2016

What's with Pakistanis and Kashmir!? Also this new trend of thanking people from Kashmir!!

— Ankit (@dhinchak_) March 25, 2016

looks like shahid afridi has already put a step onto his political course after his retirement from cricket with his #kashmir statement.

— Kaiten Thakur (@KaitenThakur2) March 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/shampyarjun/status/713356645774921728

And there has been support for Pakistan from Kashmir so why wouldn't he thank them. It was not as if he was bluffing.

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) March 25, 2016

If Afridi is really in support of Kashmir he should have been part of Kargil war in 99 and tried his luck.. #Kashmir #PakvAus

— Dhruva (@Dhruva91dec) March 25, 2016

#AUSvPAK He is mentioned Kashmir to divert the attention from his dismal performance this is what politicians do in our part of world

— Wicked Tweets (@vickedTwitt) March 25, 2016

Since it was his last game, Twitteritari also bid him adieu – Twitter Reaction: Twitter bids good bye to Shahid Afridi