"I thank people who came and supported us from Pakistan and Kashmir," the Pakistan cricket team captain had said after winning the toss against New Zealand. (File photo)
Highlights
- Shahid Afridi Made comment during post-match presentation.
- He also thanked BCCI for taking care of Pakistan team.
- Pakistan skipper set to get the axe when he returns home.
Shahid Afridi, unfazed by the criticism he drew after a previous match, mentioned Kashmir once again today during a post-match presentation after Pakistan was knocked out of the World T20 by Australia.
"I thank people who came and supported us from Pakistan and Kashmir," said the Pakistan captain, who had earned the wrath of the Indian cricket board BCCI for a similar comment after winning the toss in Pakistan's game against New Zealand, also at Mohali.
The BCCI too got a thank you from Afridi "for taking good care of us in India,"
Last week the Pakistan skipper, set to get the axe when he returns home, was cheered by a section of the crowd at Mohali when he won the toss, prompting commentator Rameez Raja to say he seemed to have a bit of "fan following" at the ground.
"Yes, a lot of people, a lot of people are here from Kashmir as well," Afridi had said.
"To give a statement like that is not politically correct. A player should stay away from all this. That's the reason why he was criticised in Pakistan," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur had said,
Mr Thakur was referring to the controversy triggered by an earlier remark by Afridi that the Pakistani cricket team gets "more love in India than back home".
He was lambasted in Pakistan with former captain Javed Miandad saying the all-rounder should be ashamed of himself.
Well far from it. Asked about the controversy the comment generated, Shahid Afridi said, "My comment was meant for educated people."