From Kapil Dev to Virat Kohli: Shahid Afridi invites wrath of Indian cricketers for Kashmir comment

New Delhi, April 4: A day after veteran India cricketer Gautam Gambhir slammed former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi for his controversial comments on Kashmir, several other India cricketers joined Gambhir to lash out at him. The cricketers joined in unison to criticise Afridi for his vague observation.

From cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar to India captain Virat Kohli, cricketers advised Afridi that India can very well manage its internal affairs while batsman Suresh Raina asked the former Pakistan captain to advise his country's army that it stops supporting extremists for maintaining peace in the Valley.

In a surprise comment, Afridi on Tuesday expressed concerns about "worrisome" situation in Kashmir.

"It is obvious that we have capable people to manage our country, run our country. No outsider needs to tell us what we need to do," said Tendulkar at an event in Mumbai.

Raina, who has roots in Kashmir, took to Twitter to offer an advice to Afridi. "Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so always. Kashmir is the pious land where my forefathers were born. I hope @SAfridiOfficial bhai asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir. We want peace, not bloodshed and violence," Raina wrote on his micro-blogging site.

Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so always. Kashmir is the pious land where my forefathers were born. I hope @SAfridiOfficial bhai asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir. We want peace, not bloodshed and violence. 🙏

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) April 4, 2018

India captain Virat Kohli said being an Indian, country's interest was paramount to him. "As an Indian you want to express what is best for your nation and my interests are always for the benefit of our nation. If anything opposes it, I would never support it for sure," Kohli told reporters on the sidelines a training session at Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.

Former India player Mohammad Kaif said Afridi would not have made the comments had Pakistani cricketers were still playing in the Indian Premier League.

"'Paisa Bolta Hai'. Can't imagine Afridi making these comments if Pakistani players were still playing in the IPL. Rather, what's needed to be condemned foremost is the reason because of which Pakistani players are not allowed to play in the IPL - Infiltration from Pakistani terrorists and Pakistan's support to separatists," Kaif wrote on his Twitter handle.

Dear Afridi , we wish peace and love but Peace is a two way street. pic.twitter.com/1oonVHQMqP

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 4, 2018

"We wish peace and love but peace is a two-way street," he added.

Former India captain Kapil Dev said that Afridi's comment does not even deserve a reaction.

"I have no time for him. Who is he? Why are we giving importance to him? We should not be giving importance to such people. If somebody sitting in one corner of the world says something, I think the best thing is not to react to it," Kapil Dev said in Mumbai.

Gambhir was the first Indian cricketer who reacted over Afridi's comments on the social media.

The Delhi Daredevils captain wrote on his Twitter handle, "Media called me for reaction on @SAfridiOfficial tweet on OUR Kashmir & @UN. What's there to say? Afridi is only looking for @UN which in his retarded dictionary means "UNDER NINTEEN" his age bracket. Media can relax, @SAfridiOfficial is celebrating a dismissal off a no- ball!!!"

Media called me for reaction on @SAfridiOfficial tweet on OUR Kashmir & @UN. What’s there to say? Afridi is only looking for @UN which in his retarded dictionary means “UNDER NINTEEN” his age bracket. Media can relax, @SAfridiOfficial is celebrating a dismissal off a no- ball!!!

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 3, 2018

(With inputs from PTI)