Critical of Indian media, Afridi launches tirade
“You can see how many times we have had friendship in 60 years and how many times relations got strained.” —Photo by Reuters
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, whose team lost to India in the cricket World Cup, has delivered a tirade against Indian media for worsening political ties between the two great rivals.
In a Pakistani TV show aired Sunday by a private channel, a bitter Afridi was repeatedly applauded by the studio audience and praised Pakistan’s media for being “a hundred times better”.
“As far as Indian media is concerned, their approach is very negative. I believe their role has also been very dirty especially in terms of worsening ties between our two countries,” he said.
“If I have to tell the truth, Indians cannot have the kind of hearts that Pakistani Muslims have. They cannot have the big and clean hearts that Allah has given to Pakistanis.”
His remarks cut across praise from the United States for the cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan, whose leaders met for the semi-final that Afridi’s side lost by a mere 29 runs.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the World Cup match between the two nations last Wednesday – the first time a top Pakistani leader visited since 2001.
But while analysts said the cricket had given the rivals a fresh impetus to continue a sustained dialogue, Afridi seemed less optimistic.
“It is very difficult for us to live with them or have a long-term relationship with them,” he said. “You can see how many times we have had friendship in 60 years and how many times relations got strained.”
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947. In India, on the eve of the semi-final, Afridi had called himself an “ambassador for Pakistan, so I should know what to say.”
“I think it’s a great sign for both countries and sports, especially cricket always brings these two countries together,” he added.
As a Pakistani, I'd like to say that Afridi's comments were pretty sad….but would also like to remind the Indian brothers that this is exactly what Afridi meant when he said the media in our two countries is playing more of a divisive role than a uniting one…Afridi was provoked enough by the anchor on Samaa…but still that is no excuse for such comments!
I listened to this interview and it's very sad to see how the reporter has distorted the words. It seems like this newspaper also doesn't want peace between India and Pakistan.
This is what he was asked and what he replied:
How was the behavior of Indian "Team" with all of you?
Ans: "I can't hide and don't want to lie. No matter how much we try, they can't have the same friendly behavior". Note: He's only talking about the *team*, not the Indian nation. I think every sensible person can tell the difference in their behavior to each other by watching the match. Everything is live on screen! He's an honest man and he told about his experience with the players.
And the comment about "kind of heart" also refers to the "team" of both countries. He didn't even use the word "Muslims" at all!
Alas! the reporter has twisted Afridi's comments in a shrewd way. They just can't see that people's hearts are being connected and they have started respecting each other.
In an earlier interview outside his home, he's literally fighting with a journalist who said that we need different mindset when playing against Indian Team. He replied that why are you guys against India…he couldn't comprehend it (gave examples of similarity of culture). He also advised them not to have ill-feelings about India and Indians.
The media is trying to crush Pakistan Team's efforts and the huge response from across the border (which we are extremely grateful for and we Pakistanis feel honored). Please my respected readers, don't let the media win.
As expected his comments are not refuted by Pakistanis
Refute?? Infact I 100% agree with Afridi and please dont say iam a fundamentalist!!
He is deinitely right you know!!
The fact of the matter is that India and Indians have always been very negative as far as Pakistan is concerned and they have always done their best to malign our cricket and cricketers.
The sole reason being that they simply cant stomach being outplayed by Pakistanis.
Am sure lots of people cant forget that statement made by Indians re Sharjah being a show run by the Pakistanis for the Pakistanis when they kept on loosing there and then they walked away from that regular feature!!
Was it not sour grapes then??
We also havent forgotten the vandalism at the eden gardens by Indian crowd upon loosing to Sri Lankans in the 1987 world cup.
I would say it takes some guts to speak the truth so WELL DONE Afridi and we are proud of you.
Grow up Afridi.Such comments are only ruining pakistans image.
Afridi has insulted people of both countries. If Allah has given clean hearts to Pakistanis alone, could Afridi explain why so many cricketers indulge in match fixing? Just watch Afridi run across the border the moment he gets selected to play in the IPL. Then he will preach to the world that Indians have the biggest hearts.
I had huge respect for Afridi but lost all of them reading this article. It would have been fair if he would have said Indian Media is negative. But if he says Alimghty gave clean hearts to pakistanis and and a sordid one to Indians, it's unfortunate. Shahid u wont ever have the kind of respect Imran khan,wasim akram, shoaib and many others enjoy.
What is with this man, few days ago he gives a statement against Pakistanis that they are blinded by haterade for Indians and now blaming the other side. I don't think anyone should believe this man anymore. His talking style is same as his batting does not think. booo you mr Afridi.
Afridi is out of his mind or is passing a calculated comment to sustain in Pakistan as being Anti-India.
His comments are contradictory to what he said before. May be not able to digest the victory of Arch-rivals.
If Gambhir was mixing politics, then what is Afridi doing, isnt it same by mixing religion and politics and cricket together?