Former controversial Pakistani cricketer is back in the news again. This time he is on the pitch again, batting for the Taliban.
“Taliban have come with a very positive mind. They're allowing ladies to work,” said the former cricket captain of Pakistan in a video clip released by Geo TV.
❝Taliban have come with a very positive mind. They're allowing ladies to work. And I believe Taliban like cricket a lot❞ Shahid Afridi. He should be Taliban's next PM. pic.twitter.com/OTV8zDw1yu
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) August 30, 2021
“Bahut zabardast positive ke saath aaye hain, ladies ko kaam karne ke saath saath, politics aur doosre jobs main bhi aane ki ijazat de rahe hain. Woh cricket ko bhi support kar rahe hain and Taliban likes cricket,” said mesmerised Afridi.
An ardent supporter of Pakistani security establishment, Afridi is among of hard liners of Pakistan who are cheering the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan. He supported Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement after Taliban’s victory that he declared that the Taliban were “breaking the chains of slavery.”
Since his retirement Afridi has made it clear that he is ready to be on Pakistan’s political pitch and has been seen praising the Pakistani military establishment and the army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Pakistani analysts say Afridi believes that if Imran Khan becomes the Prime Minister with the help of the Pakistani army, even he can become PM.
Few months back he advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to "fix the problems of old Pakistan" instead of focusing on Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari.
"Leave what the previous governments have done and focus on what you have to do now. Imran Bhai should now leave Zardari and Nawaz Sharif alone as he has been talking about them wherever he goes for the past two and half years.”
Last year, he tried to make a pitch for Pakistan military’s Kashmir policy by joining the chorus, “Kashmir banega Pakistan” , only to get slammed by the Indian cricketers.
“Jokers like Afridi, Imran & Bajwa can spew venom against India & PM @narendramodi ji to fool Pak ppl but won’t get Kashmir till judgment day! Remember Bangladesh?” the former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir wrote on twitter. He further wrote, in reply to Afridi’s remarks, “Pak has 7 lakh forces backed by 20 Cr ppl says 16 yr old man @SAfridiOfficial. Yet begging for Kashmir for 70 yrs.”
Pak has 7 lakh force backed by 20 Cr ppl says 16 yr old man @SAfridiOfficial. Yet begging for Kashmir for 70 yrs. Jokers like Afridi, Imran & Bajwa can spew venom against India & PM @narendramodi ji to fool Pak ppl but won't get Kashmir till judgment day! Remember Bangladesh?
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 17, 2020
Afridi’s remark invited the wrath of other Indian cricketers too.
“Gosh! What all a person must do to remain relevant! Even more so for a nation that is living on alms. So, better do something for your failed nation and leave #Kashmir alone. I am a proud Kashmiri and it is and will always remain an inalienable part of India. Jai Hind!” Suresh Raina tweeted.
Slamming Afridi for his remark, Harbhajan said that he will never support Afridi again as he continues to make anti-India comments.
"It was Afridi who requested me and Yuvi to do a video in support of his foundation as spread of pandemic doesn't see religion or borders. But then he would time and again make anti-India comment."
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