Afridi says Pakistan ready for WT20, urges batsmen to play responsibly

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi on Friday said the team was ready to battle it out for the World T20 in India leaving behind ‘the uncertainty and concerns in India.’

Leaving messages on social media for fans and co-players, the heartthrob of Pakistan cricket fans said they only wanted to focus on cricket and winning the mega event.

He acknowledged the team’s recent below average performances, saying: “We haven’t done well in recent matches. But for WorldT20 we r ready.”

The T20 captain, who is likely to retire from international cricket after the World T20 in India, urged the fellow batsmen to play with responsibility and score enough runs for bowlers to defend it.

Earlier today, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan finally gave the 'green signal' for the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the World T20 being held in India.

Pakistan had earlier said its men´s and women´s teams would travel to India only after New Delhi gave a public guarantee on the safety of its players.

The team is likely to depart tonight or tomorrow morning for Kolkata, announced PCB Executive Committee Chairman Najam Sethi. 

We haven't done well in recent matches.But for WorldT20 we r ready, batsmen must take responsibility& score enough for bowlers to defend1/2

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) March 11, 2016

We want to leave behind the uncertainty & concerns in India we ONLY want to focus on cricket and winning.Keep supporting green team.

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) March 11, 2016

Shahid Afridi also thanked cricket legends Imran Khan and Wasim Akram for agreeing to give morale-boosting speeches to players ahead of World T20.

Pleased to anuce that @ImranKhanPTI&@wasimakramlive ve agreed 2 motivate team ahead of WT20 games.Thankful to two lgnds for their time 4Pak.

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) March 11, 2016

Afridi has been facing severe criticism for his dismal performance in the Asia Cup, after Pakistan lost their clashes against India and Bangladesh to be thrown out of contention for the tournament final.

It may mentioned here that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had stopped Afridi from speaking to the media after expressing annoyance over his recent tweets seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's direct help in cricketing affairs.