NEW DELHI – Prevailing cross- border tension may have restrictedIndia-Pakistan bilateral cricketing ties but Shahid Afridi loves to putacross a point firmly — his “cordial relation” with India captain ViratKohli cannot and will not be defined by political situation.
“My relationship with Virat is not dictated by political situation. Viratis a fantastic human being and an ambassador of cricket for his country,just like I am for my country,” Afridi said.
“He (Kohli) has always shown a lot of respect and has even gone out of hisway to present a signed jersey for my foundation (Shahid AfridiFoundation),” he added.
Afridi’s foundation has been working in providing clean and safe drinkingwater for the economically weaker sections of society.
“There is a lot of warmth and fellow-feeling whenever I have spoken toVirat. It’s not that we get a chance to speak a lot but from time to time,he would drop in a message and I would do the same. I congratulated himrecently when I came to know the he was getting married.
“I believe as cricketers we can set examples of how relationship betweenindividuals can be a template for relationship between countries. I thinkafter Pakistan, the two countries where I have received most love andrespect are India and Australia,” said the former Pakistan skipper.
*‘Kohli’s character different from Dhoni’*
For someone, who was a maverick during his international career, Afridiloves Kohli’s aggression and believes that supporting juniors in crisissituations has also helped him in earning respect from youngsters.
“Virat is doing a brilliant job. I have no problem with aggression if it isa controlled one. And Virat’s character is different from MS Dhoni, who wasa composed individual.
“Now suddenly, you cannot change the inherent nature of a person. Virat’sgreatest asset is that he can take the team along,” Afridi observed.
Asked to compare Kohli with Pakistan captain Sarfraz Khan, Afridi said:“Sarfraz is still new to the job and he will only get better along the way.The only thing I don’t like is that media running down players during theirrough times.
“As long as you are winning, everything is fine and you lose a game and allhell breaks loose. That is grossly unfair. We should not overlook someone’spast achievements just because he is going through a bad patch,” said thecricketer who has been loved and criticised in equal measure.
During the couple of days of Ice Cricket at St Moritz tournament, Afridi attimes even beat Virender Sehwag in terms of popularity thanks to thepresence of a larger number of expatriate Pakistani fans, who had throngedSt Moritz.
The moment he entered the playing area wearing the orange jumper, St Moritzturned into a ‘Lala Land’ as everyone wanted a piece of their beloved‘Lala’, as Pakistani fans affectionately call Afridi.
Afridi was a different man at different times.
He autographed the posters, even a Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf flag, obligedall the selfie seekers, seemed a tad irritated with multiple one-on-oneinterview requests, took his wife and youngest daughter out for a walk downthe lake and did not even give a second glance at a young Pakistani woman,who in front of everyone shouted “Lala aapse kabhi alag se mil sakti hoon(Can I meet you somewhere else?).”
And yes, he played cricket too and tried to hit out as he would do oftenduring his green jersey days. And the result was more often than not hisdownfall. It happened the same way but no one cared.