Afridi upset over arrest of Pak cricket fan in India

Karachi: Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has expressed his disappointment after his fan was detained in India for wearing a jersey with the number of the all-rounder printed on it.

The incident happened when an Indian fan of the player, Ripon Chowdhary, went to watch a cricket match in Assam wearing the jersey with the Pakistan allrounder's number embossed on it. Chowdhary was apprehended by local police following a complaints filed by the youth win g of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

The police said that they have arrested the youth and lodged a case under section 120(B), 294 of the Indian Penal code.

Calling the act shameful, Shahid Afridi stated that he would appeal to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the matter. "It is shameful that such an incident should take place. It is sad that politics is being played with cricket," Afridi stated.

What else Shahid Afridi said:

• Such incidents highlight intolerance and should be condemned.
• If there are fans of Pakistan cricket players in India the same is the case in Pakistan where there are fans of Indian players.
• Cricket fans should only be seen as cricket lovers in both countries.
• Cricket should be kept away from politics.

It may be mentioned that a similar incident had taken place in February last in Pakistan when a fan of Indian Test Cricket captain Virat Kohli was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for hoisting the Indian flag on the roof of his house, before the court granted him bail in Okara, Punjab.