Press release from Shahid Afridi 25th January 2010 Over the last few days there has been intense media attention on the IPL auction in Pakistan and India. I want to give my personal view and Inshallah this will close the matter.

Press release from Shahid Afridi 25th January 2010

Over the last few days there has been intense media attention on the IPL auction in Pakistan and India. I want to give my personal view and Inshallah this will close the matter.

After the IPL auction I was deeply hurt and angry, the way Pakistani players were treated was disrespectful and in my view wrong.

Whose fault it was…..I don’t know.

In times like these as a Muslim the examples of our Prophet (pbuh) has guided me and I’m therefore willing to forgive and forget what has happened and look forward.

When you think about it Pakistan and India share much more things in common than there are differences, we need to build our relations rather than break them.

When you look at the great work that has been done by the ‘Amaan Ki Asha” project by The Jang Group of Pakistan & The Times of India, this is how we need to move forward.

Sport should be used to build peace between our great nations, not break them.

If I was invited to play in India again I would do so happily, they have great fans and great stadiums and I have many friends there.

Although Pakistan & India have borders, these borders cannot divide humanity.

I hope this closes the matter from me.

Shahid Afridi