BCCI Is Once Again Mixing Cricket And Politics, KPL Is A League For Kashmir - Shahid Afridi 

Former Pakistan captain and iconic all-rounder Shahid Afridi has now openly aired his stance against the BCCI with respect to the ongoing tussle between the Indian board and the PCB regarding the Kashmir Premier League (KPL).

On Saturday former South Africa opener Herschelle Gibbs accused BCCI of “threatening me saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket related work” if he participates in the KPL. Along with Gibbs, former Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, former England players Monty Panesar and Matt Prior, have also been drafted in for the tournament, but none of them have spoken anything yet on the issue.

The PCB then expressed its displeasure with the BCCI getting involved in the tournament – it was reported that the BCCI called the ICC Full Members in a bid to prevent the retired players from those countries from appearing in the league.

“The PCB considers that the BCCI has brought the game into disrepute by issuing warnings to multiple ICC Members to stop their retired cricketers from featuring in the Kashmir Premier League, further threatening they will not be allowed entry into India for cricket-related work,” the PCB said in a statement.

“Such conduct from the BCCI is completely unacceptable, against the preamble of the Spirit of Cricket and sets a dangerous precedence, which can neither be tolerated nor ignored. The PCB will raise this matter at the appropriate ICC forum and also reserves the right to take any further action that is available to us within the ICC charter.”

We won’t be deterred with such behaviour: Shahid Afridi

Now, Shahid Afridi, who is a captain of one of the teams and also the brand ambassador of the league, said he is disappointed in the BCCI for conflicting cricket with the prevailing straining political issue between the two countries.

He stated that the players would definitely put an entertaining show for the fans, and thought the fans shouldn’t be denied cricketing action.

“Really disappointing that BCCI is once again mixing cricket and politics! KPL is a league for Kashmir, Pakistan and cricket fans around the world. We will put up a wonderful show and won’t be deterred with such behaviour!!” Shahid Afridi wrote on Twitter.

The tournament is scheduled to start on August 6 with the final on August 17. It is to be played at the Muzaffarabad cricket stadium in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Really disappointing that BCCI is once again mixing cricket and politics! KPL is a league for Kashmir, Pakistan and cricket fans around the world. We will put up a wonderful show and won't be deterred with such behaviour!! h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->J<!---->9<!---->X<!---->c<!---->b<!---->E<!---->e<!---->U<!---->F<!---->6

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

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