'Does it hurl fire or is it haunted?' - Shahid Afridi blasts PCB's reluctance to play in Ahmedabad

Pakistan's participation in the upcoming ODI World Cup hosted by India is still in doubt after PCB chairman Najam Sethi's latest interview. The Pakistani board has time and again expressed their discontentment with playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, former Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi has urged the team to prove their mettle by playing at the venue.

PCB chair Najam Sethi recently revealed that the team will only travel to India for the ICC mega event after the assent of the Pakistani government. Pakistan's reluctance to play at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which is rumoured to host the titanic clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, has delayed BCCI's draft schedule for the World Cup.

Despite the board's unwillingness, former Pakistani skipper and one of the most celebrated cricketers in the country, Shahid Afridi, urged the team to take the field in Ahmedabad. He was unable to understand the reasoning behind Pakistan's reluctance to play at the venue.

"Why are they declining to play on Ahmedabad pitches? Does it hurl fire or is it haunted? Go and play - go, play and win. If these are the foreseen challenges, then the only way to overcome them is through a comprehensive victory," Afridi said on Samaa TV.

Pull a victory in front of a packed Indian crowd and show them what you got: Afridi

The ex-cricketer further elaborated saying that the team's victory should be the only concern. He stated that a win for the Men in Green in the Lion's Den will make the Indians take note of Pakistan's mettle, sending a stern warning to all the other teams in the competition. 

"What matters at the end of the day is Pakistan team's win. The crux only and only lies in there. Take this rather positively. If they [India] are comfortable there, you should go, pull a victory in front of packed Indian crowd and show them what you got," he added.