Former chief selector and national cricket team captain Shahid Afridi responded firmly to Gautam Gambhir’s comments about the friendship between Pakistani and Indian cricketers. Afridi stated, “Cricketers not only have lives off the field but are also ambassadors for their nations. They should learn to respect players from other teams.”
He further added, “My views differ from Gautam’s. We are cricketers with fans globally, so it’s important to send a positive message through our friendships. While there may be aggression on the field, there’s also life beyond it.”
Previously, during the Asia Cup, Gautam Gambhir had criticized the camaraderie between Indian and Pakistani players. Speaking on Star Sports, Gambhir pointed out that when representing their nations, players should put friendships aside and compete fiercely for victory.
In a separate incident, a video of Gautam Gambhir making inappropriate gestures at spectators during an India-Nepal match went viral. Gambhir blamed the incident on Pakistani influences.
It’s worth noting that the Indian and Pakistani teams will face off again in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup on September 10.
