Shahid Afridi Invites Virat Kohli to Pakistan, Urges India to Prioritize Cricket Over Politics

Former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi has extended an invitation to Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli, expressing that he would be met with immense love and admiration if he visited Pakistan. Afridi's comments come amidst reports of India's hesitation to participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Afridi urged the Indian team to prioritize cricket over political tensions and visit Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. He emphasized that cricket tours should be kept separate from politics, as the rivalry between India and Pakistan on the field is unparalleled.

"I welcome the Indian team (in Pakistan) and they should come. We've always received huge respect and love in our tours of India. In the same way, the Indian team also received love and respect during their tour in 2005. Cricket tours should be kept aside from politics. There is no big politics than India and Pakistan playing against each other in their countries," Afridi stated.

Afridi expressed his admiration for Kohli, calling him his favorite player and praising his exceptional talent. He believes that Kohli would be overwhelmed by the love he would receive in Pakistan, surpassing the affection he has experienced in India.

"Virat will forget the love he has received in India when he would play in Pakistan. He has a huge craze in Pakistan and our people like him very much. In fact, he is my favorite player. He has his own class and he shouldn't have retired from T20Is as because of him T20I looked beautiful," Afridi said.

Regarding the future of Indian cricket, Afridi identified Shubman Gill as a potential successor to legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. He attributed the emergence of young talent to the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has created a vast pool of players.

Afridi also emphasized the importance of stability in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) administration. He believes that the PCB Chairman should be appointed for an extended tenure to ensure continuity and allow the Pakistan captain to remain in his post for a longer period.

"Chairman should at least get three years so that Pakistan captain can remain for 2-3 years at his post. With the change of chairman, other things should not be affected. If we work on the basis of merit, the results will come," Afridi concluded.

Tags: #ShahidAfridi, #ViratKohli, #IndiaPakistanCricket, #ChampionsTrophy, #CricketDiplomacy