I was only trying to give a positive message: Afridi

E-Paper | October 13, 2026

I was only trying to give a positive message: Afridi

Agencies Published March 16, 2016

KOLKATA: Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi, under fire for saying that cricketers from his country are loved more in India, sought to douse the fire by saying that he did not intend to demean his nation and was merely trying to give a “positive message” by showing respect to the fans here.

In an audio statement posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on its Twitter handle, Afridi has clarified that he was not trying to belittle Pakistani fans during the now infamous press conference ahead of the ICC World Twenty20.

“I am not just captain of the Pakistan cricket team but I am representing all the Pakistani people here and I think if one looks at my comment in a positive way then it is obvious that I did not mean to say that anybody else would matter more to me than Pakistani fans. My whole identity comes from Pakistan,” Afridi said.

Afridi has been criticised for the statement made on Sunday with former captain Javed Miandad calling it shameful. The flamboyant all-rounder has also been issued a legal notice in Lahore for his comment.

“I was asked a question by a journalist and I tried to answer it in a positive way because I know whatever I say would be heard all across the world. So I was merely trying to give a positive message to the rest of the world that we enjoy a lot when we play in India.

“Whether it is Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis or Inzamam-ul-Haq, they will also say that they get a lot of respect here because cricket is literally worshipped in India. You can even ask Imran bhai, cricket is a religion here,” said Afridi.

“I think I made a positive statement on behalf of my country but if somebody looks at it negatively, he would get a negative message. My intention was positive.”

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2016

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stranger

Mar 16, 2016 07:17am

Stupid thing said with positive intentions is more dangerous than a wilful negative statement. Afridi must be boycotted and removed from the team.

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Khan - Pakistani , USA

Mar 16, 2016 07:41am

Any positive message or gesture towards your people and country ?

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Khan - Pakistani , USA

Mar 16, 2016 07:43am

Play cricket sensibly and win matches against India and that would be the best positive message towards everyone . Leave PR issues to your team's PR Manager !

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Mas

Mar 16, 2016 07:46am

We are more interested in your cricketing skills...rather than Diplomatic... It could be of your pure positive intention but doesn't look good in overall sense.

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Abdulla Hussaun

Mar 16, 2016 07:49am

Afridi should learn to use both his own tongue and brain while giving statement on sensitive matters.

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Khan

Mar 16, 2016 07:59am

No matter what you do for Pakistan, its a no win situation. At least you people in Pakistan should support your whole team, not just few or one figure, or for that matter your favorite figure.

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Roofi

Mar 16, 2016 07:59am

Love you Lala, no one can challenge your loyalty and love towards Pakistan. Your win and lose doesn't matter to me. It's team game if team fails it doesn't mean something is wrong with you. You are a more bowler than batsman. I always judge you with your bowling rather than batting that's why I don't have any complaint against you. Only those people will consider your statement wrong who have hatred in their heart and towards humanism. If they hate, don't hate in return. Try to win their heart with kind gestures.

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Nihari Lal 007

Mar 16, 2016 08:23am

Please don't. Just show up for practice and focus on your batting and bowling.

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Umer

Mar 16, 2016 08:30am

We as a Nation are seriously Sick! we are an expert of making mountain out of a molehill.

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Erik

Mar 16, 2016 08:35am

Pakistanis want to see you as our captain despite your extremely poor performance. You would not have survived in Indian team and would have been eliminated from the side decades ago. This is how much we Pakistanis loved you, but I think money matters and future jobs are more important.

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Speak out

Mar 16, 2016 09:16am

We agree with you Afridi and we understand what you said was a normal diplomatic sentence,we often see here in Pakistan,the Indian celebrities says "they are feeling like or even better than home".It's OK now you devote your full attention to matches,and forget this controversy.

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Hope.

Mar 16, 2016 09:46am

Next time focus on your performance "0" and be just HONEST and worry not about image, only way you can give a good image is by performing well and Pakistan wining.

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Demis

Mar 16, 2016 09:47am

Come on brothers.. What's the issue here? We all know Pakistan had concerns about team's security and a positive message from the team captain is to ensure that everything is safe and sound. Treat in that way. It's sickening to add more pressure to your team. This is just sports not war! A cricket lover from India

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Zak

Mar 16, 2016 10:14am

Afridi should have been removed from captaincy the day after , he insulted his own country. He is incapable of being captain for Pakistan.

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ali

Mar 16, 2016 10:15am

while degrading your own country.

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Zak

Mar 16, 2016 10:16am

@Demis reverse the situation and see Indians reaction. Don't be hypocritical.

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KHALID HUSSAINI

Mar 16, 2016 10:21am

Mr Afridi should learn to "Think" before he opens his mouth. He has been issuing statements on media before also and landed himself in trouble. Any way good luck Team Pak for the world cup.

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Pakistani-Khi

Mar 16, 2016 10:31am

It was we Pakistanis who made you Boom Boom Afridi, defended you while mostly no performance given by you as expected and now at the end of your career you have credited entirely different world which is not even a single % true.

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Karachite

Mar 16, 2016 10:39am

Try to do what you know. Let politicians and diplomats do their job. You concentrate on your game and show your contribution in winning matches...please.

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Hussain684

Mar 16, 2016 10:42am

Let him breath. .He has to deliver in hostile environment.

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True Pakistani

Mar 16, 2016 10:43am

Do your job and learn cricket or leave it. You don't need to degrade the nation for "positive image".

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Rehan

Mar 16, 2016 10:44am

Lala, Silence is better than thousand words !!! Give positive message with your good performance on the field and good conduct off the field. You have no right to hurt the feelings of your fellow country men. Now you have support from your Khalifa coach which is understandable, because this is the so called last chance for both of you to perform and if not then of course you are eyeing lucrative offers from Indian dominant sport channels for commentary and expert advice, very much like your seniors !!!

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Billu

Mar 16, 2016 10:46am

Adrift stop apologising to the non believers. They'll say whatever needs to be said to break your spirits. They're good for nothing nation haters. Cricket lovers are with you wherever they're from. You represent a professional cricket team not an army's battalion

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Hasan Azam Khan

Mar 16, 2016 10:48am

Performance 0, Team Management 0, communication 0. what else do we need to remove this man from the board?

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saleem

Mar 16, 2016 10:48am

If someone think its was negative comments , that is his thinking , the comment is good gesture for indian public that this war between pakistan and india are not public to public but its politicians to politicians and fool the public.

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homeboy

Mar 16, 2016 10:51am

what's the big deal if he appreciated indian public.

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Pakistani

Mar 16, 2016 11:03am

“I think I made a positive statement......” What arrogance still he has not realised his faux pas.

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syed wasim haider

Mar 16, 2016 11:06am

Shahid is right. To say something good for anyone is better for the team.This will give a good message to the fans of cricket in India.

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Santhosh

Mar 16, 2016 11:08am

'OMG' the below comments from Pak fans shows how difficult is captaining Pakistan really have to appreciate Afridis guts for standing still as a captain. Though there was nothing wrong in his intent to appreciate Indian public which is actually good at the sports point of view may be his words comparing to Pak fans may have hurted the sentiments of Pak fans. But i urge pak fans to plz support your team rather then giving tremendous amount of pressure by your comments at least till the end of WC.

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Cric Lover

Mar 16, 2016 11:34am

Once the legendary Singer Sajjad Ali Said, "Chal Rehn Dey rehn day chal Rehn Dey", My message to Lala and all Pakistani Crick lovers.

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bharat

Mar 16, 2016 12:28pm

He is more of a politician than a cricketer. Obsessed with playing politics.

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vrpatil

Mar 16, 2016 12:35pm

What to introspect is,whether Afridi was and is in team all these years because of his cricketing skills or for his aggressive stance in field while playing against India especially..!? and what are the criteria for selecting a player..!?.As far as players are concerned ,all those who played to their full capacity,are loved by all irrespective of their nationality.

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Ali sikandar chachar

Mar 16, 2016 12:40pm

If anybody visits someone's home and he enjoys a lot of hospitality there before leaving host's home, if he says with gratitude that I 've been given more respect than my home;it doesn't mean that he is not given respect at his home.Simply Afridi has thanked India's hospitality by saying these words. Only media is making it issue otherwise it's not a big issue.

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vinod

Mar 16, 2016 02:48pm

we love you afridi ... hope Pakistan win some matches and all this dump people start showing respect to you....

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A. Ali

Mar 16, 2016 07:28pm

thanks Afridi for clarifying this to novices.... I know you are a die hard Pakistani. your statement was flummoxed by some novices ( sadly some yellow journalism students ).

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Akhtar Ali

Mar 16, 2016 08:23pm

Making a mountain out of a molehill. The patriotism of a person must not be questioned.

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A. Ali

Mar 16, 2016 08:32pm

@Santhosh - your sarcastic remarks are well noted. you don tell us what you did with your team ( except on papers ) when they lost yesterday vs NZ... you / your media and public shredded apart entire team... questioned Dhoni's captaincy, rattled whole batting line up and blamed even the spectators for not showing decent support to your team.... after your 2nd game vs Pak I wonder if you will watch rest of of t20 wc.

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A. Ali

Mar 16, 2016 08:35pm

for all those indian cricketing fans who are making sarcastic statements about Afridi, we know very well how do you treat your players when they lose a game or even show sympathy for opponents.... you burn stadiums, you throw bottles on players, you dig out the pitches, on and on.....

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A. Ali

Mar 16, 2016 08:37pm

had Ms Dhoni said same, indians should have demanded his head nothing else.... so please stop sarcastic remarks about Afridi's statement.... we know how tolerant you are .... rather world know you are well tolerant.... though word 'india' is meaning of 'intolerance' in next editions of Oxford dictionaries....

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Eramanagalam Somapalan

Mar 17, 2016 04:36am

India is a free country. Of and on different voices will be heard. Pl do not read too much into our hero's words. Please give him peace of mind and encourage him to play well with a happy mind. Does not matter who wins or loses. let us grow up together.

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