Shahid Afridi wants Pakistan to stop chasing India for bilateral series

Afridi is not thrilled at the PCB’s continued efforts to persuade India to play bilateral cricket

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi wants the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to stop running after India for the resumption of bilateral ties, ESPNCricinfo reports. The maverick cricketer also claimed that he would have liked it better if the Pakistan Super League, scheduled to be held in the UAE next year, would have been hosted in his home country.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to take on each other in December this year, but the chances of the series going ahead are pretty slim. The future of the series has been in jeopardy ever since the Gurdaspur terrorist attacks in July. With the BCCI claiming that terrorism and cricket cannot go hand in hand, the PCB have been attempting to convince it’s Indian counterparts to agree to send the Indian team for the series.

PCB chief Shaharyar Khan sent a letter to BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur to this effect and has even sought the help of ICC president Zaheer Abbas to intervene in the matter. Afridi, though, is not thrilled at the attempts being made to persuade India.

"I don't know why we are pushing for India series," Afridi said. "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 has always welcomed India, last time when India toured Pakistan nobody has seen such a welcome to any team in the world. 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," he added.

Afridi wants PSL to be hosted in Pakistan

Afridi is expected to be a star attraction when the PSL kicks off in February next year, but he expressed regret that the debut season is not being hosted by Pakistan.

"It would be great if PSL could have been held in Pakistan," Afridi said. "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 likes of Chris Gayle has already signed up for the T20 competition with many other hard-hitting batsmen being approached to turn up for the league. But Afridi wants the tournament to be beneficial for Pakistan cricket foremost.

"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," Afridi said.

Pakistan are set to take on Zimbabwe in a short series comprising of two T20Is and three ODIs from September 27 to October 5 and Afridi, the skipper in the T20 format, is not taking their opponents lightly.

"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. 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,” Afridi said.

"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," he added.