India-Pakistan series won't happen until PM Narendra Modi is in power: Shahid Afridi

It’s a delight for any fan when two cricket-obsessed nations and arch-rivals India and Pakistan lock horns with each other. Due to high emotions and unavoidable adrenaline rush, any India-Pakistan clash is nothing short of a power-packed thriller. One can hardly find an empty seat whenever both the heavyweights battle it out on the field.

But since the past few years, fans of both nations haven’t witnessed a single bilateral series between India and Pakistan. The arch-rivals last played a bilateral series in 2012 against each other that was won by Pakistan. Since then, the neighbours have encountered other only in ICC events and Asia Cup.

Due to strained relations between the two nations, the possibility of a bilateral series looks bleak at the moment. Pakistan all-rounder and former skipper Shahid Afridi has also expressed his views on the issue, saying that there’s ‘no chance’ of reviving cricketing ties with India as long as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in power.

Sports can help improve India-Pakistan ties: Shahid Afridi

“The government of Pakistan is always ready but with the present regime (in India) there are no such chances of (resuming) cricket relations, of (Pakistan-India) series,” Afridi told Arab News in an interview. “With Modi in power, I don’t see it’s going to happen,” he added.

Afridi also agreed that sport can emerge as a catalyst in improving the strained relations between both countries. “I think that sports are a thing which can help improve ties,” opined Afridi.

The Pakistan stalwart also commented on the on-going Indian Premier League (IPL) in the UAE. The cash-rich league, after many delays, was shifted to the Gulf nation owing to Covid-19 pandemic. According to Afridi, Pakistani players are missing a ‘big opportunity’ by not being part of the tournament.

“I know that IPL is a very big brand in the world of cricket and it is an excellent opportunity for, whether it’s Babar Azam or many other Pakistani players to go there [to India] and play under pressure and share dressing rooms. So in my opinion Pakistani players are missing a big opportunity,” said Afridi.