NEW DELHI: Shahid Afridi is known for triggering controversy and the former Pakistan captain again sparked buzz ahead of the high-octane Asia clash between India-Pakistan slated to be held in Dubai on Sunday.
Afridi looked back on the cancellation of a World Championship of Legends (WCL) match earlier this year, voicing disappointment over the Indian players' decision to pull out. Their withdrawal came after boycott calls gained momentum in India following the Pahalgam terror attack.
"I have always said that cricket should go on; it has always helped in making the relations better between the two countries. In England, people had bought tickets to see the WCL match, and the players had practised. Then you didn't play. What was the thinking? I just can't understand," Afridi told Samaa TV.
He reinforced his earlier criticism directed at Shikhar Dhawan, albeit without mentioning the opener by name.
"If I name any player, then their lives would be made hard. The player I referred to as a bad egg, his captain also told him, 'If you don't want to play, then don't play. Just don't tweet on social media.' But that said, the player had come with an ulterior motive. That is why he was a bad egg," Afridi remarked.
Afridi intensified his remarks, claiming that certain former Indian cricketers feel compelled to overemphasise their national identity.
"There are plenty of issues in India. Some people reach the houses of players and threaten to burn them down. Certain players are still trying to prove they are Indian. They have been displaying this ever since being born. Now they are doing commentary in the Asia Cup," he said.
