Shahid Afridi blames PM Modi for bitter relations between India, Pakistan

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi feels that bilateral cricketing ties with India cannot make progress untill Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in power.

The former Pakistan skipper held PM Modi liable for further sabotaging the relations between Pakistan and India since his Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in India in 2014.

"Till Modi is in power, I don't think we will get any response from India. We have all, including Indians, understood the way Modi thinks. His thinking is inclined towards negativity," Afridi said in an interview to Cricket Pakistan when asked if bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan can resume.

"Relationship between India and Pakistan has been damaged because of one person only. And that is not what we want.

"People from either side of the border want to travel to each other's country. I don't understand what Modi wants to do and what his agenda really is," Afridi further said.

The two nations last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 when Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez’s team came to India to take part in a series of 2 T20Is and 3 ODIs. India’s last visit to Pakistan was in 2006.

Since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008, the two nations only face each other during ICC tournaments.

However, Shahid Afridi also praised the success of Indian cricket to the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that it has helped the country’s young cricketers to cope better with the pressure of international cricket.

"I think the IPL turned around Indian cricket. Their new players after having played in the IPL with top foreign players and having shared the dressing room with them are ready when they come into international cricket. They are ready to cope with the pressures at this level.

"I think the IPL changed their cricket and I think even our Pakistan Super League will do the same. Already we are seeing some good young players coming through the league. When you play with or against top international players before big crowds you learn to handle the pressure," Afridi said.

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