ICC World T20: Post-match, Afridi thanks Kashmir again

Mohali: Brushing aside controversy and subsequent uproar over his last statement in New Zealand match, Pakistan T20 captain Shahid Afridi once again thanked fans from Kashmir in his post-match talk for supporting Pakistan team at Mohali.

For the second game in a row, the Pakistan cricket team found good support from fans when they took on Australia in a World Twenty20 group match here today.

Non-stop chants of “Pakistan Jeetega” and “Afridi Lala” were heard minutes before the start of the game at the 27,000 capacity venue.

Pakistan had good support even in the game against New Zealand here, something that was acknowledged by captain Shahid Afridi.

“We are here for Afridi,” Amir, who hails from south Kashmir’s Anantnag but is studying in the nearby Rajpura, was quoted by a news gathering agency.

While most supporting Pakistan were Kashmiri students and Mohammad Bashir alias ‘Chicago Chacha’, locals were also spotted rooting for the neighbouring nation.

Businessman Rameez Riyaz, who came from Anantnag with his brother, said they were huge fans of Afridi.

“We are here for three days and will also be watching the next game here between India and Australia. We love Afridi and have been following his career very closely. Knowing that this could be his last international match, we did not want to miss the opportunity,” said Rameez.