Pakistan may boycott India in future events over hosting dispute, Afridi warns

KARACHI: Pakistan’s former captain Shahid Khan Afridi said on Saturday if India does not come to Pakistan, then Pakistan will not go to India in future ICC events.

In a conversation with TV anchor Abdullah Sultan at 17th Aalmi Urdu Conference regarding the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, Afridi stated that it has to be seen whether the ICC would be influenced by money or ensure that all countries share hosting rights on an equal basis.

Afridi pointed out that Pakistan has visited countries with challenging situations in the past to support their boards.

Afridi advised the PCB to rest key players and give opportunities to top domestic performers against smaller teams. He highlighted Saim Ayub as a promising future talent for Pakistan cricket, noting his good form in all three formats.

Afridi also said that Aamir Jamal has the potential to perform like Abdul Razzaq in the future. Afridi said that Shaheen should have been given a six-month or one-year opportunity as captain.

He suggested that the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board should hold office for a long duration to ensure continuity in cricket affairs. He also emphasized the need for more cricket academies in Pakistan to bring forward the best talent, noting that the country has no shortage of talent.