‘Makes no sense’: Yasir Arafat suggests Shahid Afridi to stay away from politics

All-rounder says former Pakistan T20I captain should refrain from commenting on foreign affairs

Former Pakistani all-rounder Yasir Arafat believes Shahid Afridi should stay away from politics as it isn’t befitting for a sportsman to comment on foreign affairs.

Arafat, in his blog for PakPassion, said Afridi’s recent social media spat with Indian cricketers didn’t look good and politics should be discussed by politicians only.

“The recent spat on social media between Shahid Afridi and a few Indian cricketers has caused some controversy,” he wrote. “Let me say that I am a firm believer in the approach that a politician’s job is to practice politics, whilst a sportsman’s job is to play a sport on the field.”

He continued: “It makes no sense and does not seem right for me as a sportsman, who knows little about foreign affairs, to start discussing such matters on social media. Let the politicians handle such matters and as sportsmen, talking on these issues does not look nice under any circumstance.”

On West Indies’ tour of Pakistan

Arafat said West Indies’ recent three-match T20I series in Karachi has provided a perfect blue-print, which will motivate now other boards to send their teams to Pakistan.

“We must accept the fact that it is up to the boards of the various countries to decide whether their teams will visit Pakistan or not,” he wrote. “The inputs regarding the security situation in Pakistan of the various players’ associations for each country such as England, Australia or New Zealand also play an important role in the final decision by the boards of different countries to tour Pakistan. The good news as far as Pakistan is concerned is that the series against the West Indies passed by without any incident or mishap. The tour can therefore be deemed a complete success from an organisational point of view.”

He continued by congratulating all parties concerned for organising a successful series in Karachi.

“I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Government of Pakistan, the security forces and the Pakistan Cricket Board for all arrangements regarding the successful tour by the West Indies,” he said.