SPORT-AFRIDI 2 LAST

"Even when we returned from India after playing the world
cup semifinal in Mohali I said that Pakistanis should not
treat cricket matches with India as war as in other things we
tend to have common interests," Afridi noted.
Afridi pointed out that there were some elements in the
Indian media who created misunderstandings or demeaned
Pakistanis.
"Even when I said that Sachin Tendulkar would have to wait
for his 100th century after the semifinal against us, my
remarks were misinterpreted and played up negatively by some
in the Indian media.
"I admire Sachin Tendulkar for being one of the best role
models for young cricketers and no one in Pakistan even doubts
his greatness as his record speak for himself.
"All I had meant was that being the captain of the
opposing team, we would not allow Tendulkar to score runs or
get a century against us which any opposing captain would say
about an opposing batsman," Afridi explained.
The Pakistan captain said the national team had gone to
India with the message of peace.
"I think our conduct in the semifinal and during our stay
in India is proof enough of our intentions. Pakistan has
always been keen to have normal cricket relations with India,"
he said.
"I still say Pakistan and India should have normal
bilateral relations in cricket and there should be regular
exchanges between the two countries," he added.
Afridi explained that his remarks on the talk show were
in response to a question about how the Indians were looking
at the semifinal match result and about some people
introducing politics into cricket with Pakistan.
"There are positive people even in the Indian media but
recently in India we as a team were sad over the way some
sections of the Indian media did stories about us and how they
portrayed us," Afridi said.
He said because of these negative elements, Pakistani
players remained out of the Indian Premier League.
"When you play a cricket match with India, the intensity
level is high but that is only on the field and it is
unfortunate when a wrong colour is given to a match or
relations between players."
Afridi said cricket can bring the two countries closer
and it was a very positive gesture on part of the Indian Prime
Minister to invite his Pakistani counterpart to Mohali, in the
noerthern Indian state of Punjab, for the match.
"I know for a fact that Pakistanis who were in Mohali for
the match enjoyed themselves thoroughly and were looked after
well even though the disappointment of losing the semifinal
was great," he noted.