KOLKATA: If controversy dominated the period before Pakistan’s arrival in India for World T20, it has not stopped. Skipper Shahid Afridi’s comment after landing on Sunday that they are more loved in India than in Pakistan has stirred a hornet’s nest in his own country.
Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad was leading the brigade lashing out at Afridi. “Shame on you. They should be ashamed of themselves for saying these things,” he told a Pakistani TV channel. A Lahore lawyer served a legal notice against Afridi, also accusing Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi of “pushing players to make such statements”.
Those with experience of playing Indo-Pak matches feel this is different from other games. Sometimes, one has to be choosy with words. “There’s bonhomie among players, with pressure to do well. Failure is not accepted. A World Cup game is particularly high voltage. One has to be careful while speaking to the media as things can be misinterpreted,” said former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif.
Hockey Olympian N Mukesh Kumar thinks pressure of this fixture means players treat it differently. “We exchange greetings, but pleasantries disappear when we’re in the match. The teams are scared to lose. I couldn’t sleep before any Pakistan match. Doing well makes you a hero, but a mistake can lead to the choicest of abuses,” he said.