Shahid Afridi tells PCB to move on and forget India series

Pakistan Twenty20 captain says if India agreed, the series could have been bigger than the Ashes

Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi on Friday said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should move on and forget playing against India if they are not interested.

"I don't know why we are pushing for India series," said Afridi, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"There are other teams as well so we should be focusing on reviving our own home grounds. We have to work on the basic things and making them strong.

“Why insist on playing with India? I don't see any need to play if they don't want to play. We have invited them and if they do not want to play then it shouldn't be a worry. We are still happy.”

Pakistan and India were scheduled to play a series in December according to the MoU signed between both the countries. The change in government led Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ask for permission from the new government which they haven’t gotten until now.

"Pakistan has always welcomed India, last time when India toured Pakistan nobody has seen such a welcome to any team in the world,” said Afridi.

“We have always supported India in tough times but it's their government decision. But I understand people from both countries want to see their teams play each other. If we play each other it would be a bigger series than the Ashes."

Earlier, the PCB chairman Shahryar Khan stated that Pakistan will not kneel down before India to play the series. He added that no series was played for the past few years and another delay does not matter.

The PCB has also written a letter to the BCCI to ask for confirmation and Shahryar said that they will wait till October for the final reply.

Meanwhile, according to media reports, the BCCI is not reluctant to revive the cricketing ties with India but the Modi-led government has not given a sure-short go-ahead to the series until now. Border tensions and political disputes are also affecting the sport however Shahryar has time and again requested the Indian board to keep politics and sports apart.

‘Pakistan Super League should be held in Pakistan’

Afridi, while talking to the media during the national training camp for the Zimbabwe series, said the Pakistan Super League should have been held in Pakistan irrespective of any overseas player agreeing to play in it or not.

"It would be great if PSL could have been held in Pakistan," said Afridi.

"As we were talking about the revival of cricket in Pakistan after the Zimbabwe tour to Pakistan, we started to hope that cricket would continue to be played here. Our cricket should be played within our own territory. It looks good if our grounds get revived, filled with crowds and our own players get the maximum benefit out of it."

The PCB finalised Doha, Qatar as the venue for the much-awaited PSL last month with Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja chosen as brand ambassadors but Afridi thinks holding the tournament in Pakistan would have been great experience for young players to perform in front of their home crowd.

"I am not worried if foreign players come or not, but what is important is the revival of cricket in Pakistan and (that) our youngsters get opportunity to play in front of big crowds," Afridi said.

"It isn't possible that we invite foreigners and (they) do not come. I spoke to some players and they are ready to come. If we give good offers to foreign players I don't see any reason why they won't come. The circumstances of our country are getting better and better."

‘Not underestimating Zimbabwe’

Afridi, while talking about the reciprocal tour to Zimbabwe said he is not underestimating their side.

"Obviously no doubt they are a fine side. I never underestimate any team especially in T20 format as once the game slips out of your hand it's really hard to fight back,” said Afridi.

“They are playing so well and I have seen their recent performances. They are in form as a team. Playing at their home ground in their own conditions is always tough. Even the matches here in Pakistan, in our home series, we never won them with ease.

"We are preparing and the series is allowing us to try many new faces ahead of the World T20. There are many players who impressed me in this (domestic) T20 cup but we can't afford to make many changes at once. We are going to make a settled side ahead of the World T20.”