This refers to the editorial, “Afridi storm in a teacup” (March 16). It is really quintessential of the parochial mindset of a section of the Pakistani media and veteran cricketers like Javed Miandad to target their swashbuckling skipper Shahid Afridi, for his praise of the Indian cricket-loving fans who welcomed, amid loud cheers, the Pakistani team at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport for the ongoing World T-20 tournament. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was spot on in observing that, what Afridi said was in good faith and to win over fans in India. He just reciprocated what he received from Indian fans and that his saying nice things about Indian hospitality should come across as an acknowledgement.
Hence, the sage advice in the editorial that it is incumbent upon all those Pakistani experts who claim to be the champions of the sportsman spirit and also the view of keeping cricket and politics apart, should stand up to overtly oppose such narrow-mindedness.