Shahid Afridi breaks silence over Dubai event row, calls outrage 'uncalled for'
In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, the flamboyant all-rounder, nicknamed Boom Boom for his explosive batting, dismissed the criticism as 'uncalled for'
'Let's not politicise things,' Afridi said. 'It wasn't even a planned appearance.'
The controversy erupted after Afridi and his former teammate Umar Gul were seen receiving a warm welcome by Keralites at an inter-collegiate dance event held at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) building on May 25.
The event, reportedly hosted by the alumni association of India's Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUBAA), coincided with Afridi's visit to PAD to celebrate a Guinness World Record for the most contributions to a handprint painting.
Afridi, who also runs a fitness centre at the PAD facility, said some Indians spotted him and Umar Gul at the venue and invited them in. 'They were just excited to see us. We were happy to meet them and share a few light moments. That's all it was,' he said.
Footage from the event showing Afridi being cheered by a largely Indian crowd quickly spread on social media, fueling criticism from certain groups in India amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Afridi, however, urged calm.
'This kind of reaction is uncalled for. I've always supported sports diplomacy,' he said. 'Cricket has the power to bring people and countries closer. That's something I've believed in throughout my career.'
He recalled with fondness his cricket tours to India, calling them some of the most memorable experiences of his life. 'To be honest, the respect I received in India as a cricketer and as a captain of Pakistan was overwhelming. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the love I got there, I didn't get anywhere else, not even in Pakistan,' Afridi said.
Afridi stressed the importance of dialogue and people-to-people connections in resolving issues between India and Pakistan. 'If our politicians won't talk and we don't play each other, how will we ever solve anything?' he asked.
Afridi said he often interacts with members of the Asian community and enjoys those conversations. 'I meet so many Indians wherever I go. We chat, we joke, we share cricket memories. There's mutual respect. It's always a pleasure.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
India hit back against England on another remarkable day in 5th Test
India roared back into contention on an exhilarating day two of the final Test on Friday as their seamers restricted England to a 23-run lead after the hosts had threatened to run away with a match that the tourists need to win to square the series. After mopping up India's brittle tail in less than 30 minutes in the morning, openers Zac Crawley and Ben Duckett raced to 92-0 in 12 overs in a blistering return of Bazball. However, continuing the back and forth theme of the entire series, India responded as their bowlers ran in relentlessly to peg England back to 247. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal then scored quickly in a potentially awkward last 90 minutes, ending unbeaten on 51 with India closing on 75-2, 52 runs ahead to leave the pivotal match fascinatingly poised. Another fabulously undulating day began with India resuming at 204-6 but soon skittled for 224 as pace bowler Gus Atkinson took five wickets in his first Test since May. It was an all-too-familiar collapse by the tourists this summer as Karun Nair fell lbw for 57 and Washington Sundar was caught for 26. Atkinson then bowled Mohammed Siraj and had Prasidh Krishna caught behind, both for ducks, to finish with 5-33. England set about their reply in their usual, swashbuckling fashion, exemplified by Duckett's extraordinary "reverse hook" for six off Akash Deep. They reached 50 in seven overs - the fastest 50 opening partnership England have ever managed in a Test - but fell just short of the 100 as Duckett was caught behind reversing for 43. They were 109-1 at lunch and England looked poised to take command but India, as they have all summer, refused to buckle as Crawley (64) and Ollie Pope (22) quickly departed. Joe Root brought his usual calm to proceedings until Siraj nipped one back at him for an lbw on 29, with Jacob Bethell going the same way soon after. Krishna finished off the session in style by having Jamie Smith brilliantly caught in the slips for eight by KL Rahul then getting Jamie Overton lbw for nought and followed up with the wicket of Atkinson to finish with 4-62. Harry Brook had a late flurry either side of a rain delay before becoming Siraj's fourth victim when bowled for 53 as England, with injured Chris Woakes absent, were all out for 247. India's openers quickly erased that and pushed on well beyond, with Jaiswal looking particularly enterprising en route to a quickfire 51 — though he was badly dropped in the deep on 40. Rahul departed tamely for seven off Josh Tongue, and Sai Sudharsan followed, lbw to Atkinson for 11, leaving Deep not out four. With good weather forecast for Saturday another Oval full house will turn up in expectation of more fireworks and what has been one of the most entertaining series for years still in the balance.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
India: National Award for Kerala Story 'grave insult' to state, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has criticised the Indian government's decision to honour the movie, Kerala Story. The film won the Best Director and Best Cinematography awards at the 71st National Film Awards, announced on Friday, August 1. The 2023 release, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, explores alleged cases of forced religious conversion in Kerala for ISIS recruitment. Vijayan accused the film of spreading misinformation and said that honouring such a film is a grave insult to the state. Without naming the film, he posted on X, "By honouring a film that spreads blatant misinformation with the clear intent of tarnishing Kerala's image and sowing seeds of communal hatred, the jury of the #NationalFilmAwards has lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar." "Kerala, a land that has always stood as a beacon of harmony and resistance against communal forces, has been gravely insulted by this decision. It is not just Malayalis, but everyone who believes in democracy, must raise their voice in defence of truth and the constitutional values we hold dear," he added. Kerala Story, starring Adah Sharma in the lead, drew criticism from the CPI(M)-led Kerala government during its release for its plot showing a group of women forcefully converted by the Islamic State.
Int'l Cricket Council
2 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Match in balance after bowlers stage India's fightback ICC World Test Championship
The see-saw battle in the England-India series continued as India ended Day 2 of The Oval Test with 52 runs ahead, after bowling out England for 247 in the first innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal (51*) and nightwatchman Akash Deep saw off England's attack after the hosts were succesful in grabbing two Indian wickets of KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan before stumps even as they dropped Jaiswal when he was on 41. As many as 16 wickets fell on the second day of the decider as pacers dominated the proceedings leaving the Test perfectly poised for an exciting finish. With England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley threatening to take the game away after India folded up early at the start, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna staged India's comeback into the game, restricting England's lead to just 23 runs. Both Siraj and Krishna bowled better lines post lunch with Siraj breaking England's back as he picked four key wickets including that of the stand-in captain Ollie Pope (22), Joe Root (29), and Jacob Bethell during a fiery eight-over spell. Siraj's terrific comeback after a forgettable morning session, made him the highest wicket taker in the series after claiming Harry Brook (53) as his 18th scalp in the tournament. Siraj was ably supported by Krishna who started the proceedings after lunch by removing the sublime-looking Crawley (64), following up with the wickets of Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson. Brook tried to hold one end with the tail and brought up his half-century in process before Siraj got better off him. England began Day 2 at The Oval with a player short and with extra responsibility falling on their pacers after Chris Woakes was ruled out of the final Test due to a shoulder injury. As India resumed at 204/6, the England bowlers led by Gus Atkinson made light work of the Indian tail after Josh Tongue trapped Karun Nair (57) plumb in front. The visitors lost their final four wickets for just six runs and collapsed within the first half an hour of day's play with Atkinson claiming his fourth five-wicket haul after he snapped the last three wickets. England continued to boss the first session as openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley got off to a flier, with a scoring rate of over seven runs per over notching up their 100 within 15 overs, losing Duckett (43) in the process. However the second session belonged to India as the pacers with four wickets each made sure India fought their way back into the game.
