Karachi, March 14 (IANS) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad lashed out at his compatriot Shahid Afridi after the latter commented that Pakistan’s cricketers were loved more by Indians than fans back home.
Afridi had made the statement while addressing a press conference in Kolkata where the Pakistani team landed on Saturday evening to take part in the World Twenty20 tournament, to be held across seven Indian cities from March 15 to April 3.
He had said that he always enjoyed playing in front of Indian fans and that they received more love in India than in Pakistan.
“These cricketers should be ashamed of themselves for saying such a thing. Shame on you,” Miandad was quoted as saying by Pakistani channel Aaj TV on Monday.
“What have the Indians given us? Speak the truth even while in India. For the last five years what have they given us or done with Pakistan cricket. Having served Pakistan cricket for so many years I am shocked and hurt to hear such comments from our players,” Miandad said.
“The job of this team is to go and play well in India and not make such unnecessary comments,” the former Pakistan skipper added.
A petition was also filed against Afridi in the Lahore High Court over his latest remark.
The petition was filed by advocate Azhar Siddique on Monday who argued that Afridi’s statement has hurt Pakistani sentiments and the court must ask the skipper to explain his remarks, reports Daily Pakistan.
“The Lahore High Court should issue a notice to Shahid Afridi seeking an explanation in 15 days,” Siddique requested the court.
Pakistan play a warm-up match against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday before their campaign starts against Bangladesh on Wednesday. Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India in a high voltage clash on Saturday at the Eden Gardens.