Superstar Shahid Afridi bats for India-Pakistan cricket ties

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi during an event in Dubai

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has spoken quite strongly about India-Pakistan cricket and reiterated that sport is the unifying factor and can help bridge the gap between the two countries.
Afridi, who played 27 Tests, a whopping 398 One Day Internationals and 98 T20 Internationals, couldn't understand why sports should mix with politics and felt that both should be kept aside.
Afridi enjoys good relations with a number of Indian cricketers and the feeling has been mutual with Indian captain Virat Kohli gifting his Team India jersey signed by all the players upon the Pakistan all-rounder's retirement.
The jersey read: "To Shahid Bhai, best wishes, always a pleasure playing against you."
To which Afridi had responded by saying: "Thank you to you and the entire Indian team for a wonderful farewell gift. Respect superstar, hope to see you soon."
The mutual admiration society continued with Kohli then gifting him a signed bat for the Shahid Afridi Foundation.
"Thank you Virat Kohli for your kind gesture in support of Shahid Afridi Foundation. Friends & supporters like you ensure #HopeNotOut for everyone," Afridi had written on twitter.
"You're most welcome Shahid Bhai.. Wishing you and the Shahid Afridi Foundation all the luck for the upcoming events," was Kohli's response.
Kohli was also seen chatting with Mohammad Amir ahead of the India-Pakistan clash in the World Twenty20 in 2016 and had also gifted a bat to the left-arm quick.
Afridi, who will be taking part in the newest format in cricket - the T10 Cricket League - this December, said that fact that Indian and Pakistani franchises will be playing together and against each other in the competition, augurs well.
"It is already a very good sign that some of the Indian teams are coming, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka as well. Pakistan and India are not playing (international cricket) because of some political issues but I think sport always brings the countries together and I think it is a very good and positive sign that some Pakistani teams and Indian teams will play against each other," said Afridi.
"The only thing that we can do is try. With the cricketers, the media should play a positive role in ensuring cricket and politics should be kept away. I've always said that sport is the only thing that can make the relationship better between the two countries. It is the same India and it is the same Pakistan. Pakistani players want to see Indian players play and Indian players want to see Pakistani players play. So, why does politics come into this, I don't understand?" he asked.
India and Pakistan last played a bilateral limited-over series in 2012-13, while they last played a Test series in 2008.
The two countries continue to play each other at ICC events.
james@khaleejtimes.com