Indian veteran Harbhajan Singh has hit back at former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi after the latter made indifferent remarks against India. In a video doing the rounds on social media, Afridi was seen, severely criticising Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Harbhajan didn’t mince any words in saying that Afridi should focus more on his country and stay in his limits. The off-spinner also pledged to cut all connections with Afridi over the latter’s controversial remarks in the critical situation.
“This is very upsetting what Shahid Afridi has come up with, talking ill about our country and our Prime Minister. This is just not acceptable,” Harbhajan told India Today show, Sports Tak.
Harbhajan and his former India teammate Yuvraj Singh had recently come under fire for the appeal they made from the people of India to donate for the Shahid Afridi Foundation in the fight against coronavirus.
“To be honest, he (Afridi) asked us to make an appeal for his charity. In good faith, we did it for humanity and for the people suffering due to the coronavirus,” said Harbhajan.
“Even our Prime Minister has said that coronavirus is a fight that extends beyond borders, religions and caste. So we were very clear with the cause that we were promoting, which was simply to help those in crisis.
“But this man is talking ill about our country. All I have to say is we have nothing to do with Shahid Afridi. He has no right to speak ill against our country, and he should stay in his country and limits.
“I was born in this country and will die in this country. I have played for my country for over 20 years and have won many games for India. No one can say that I have done anything against my country.
“Today or tomorrow, if my country needs me anywhere, even if at the border, I will be the first one to pick up a gun for the sake of my country.”
Harbhajan even said that he had made the contribution to Afridi’s foundation as a humanitarian gesture, but now his relationship with the former Pakistan all-founder has come to an end.
“One person asks me to make an appeal for the sake of humanity, and I did my bit. That was it. I have no relation or tie-up with any Shahid Afridi from here on,” he added.
Afridi, in his earlier tweet, said that it ‘does not take a religious belief to feel the agony of Kashmiris…just a right heart at the right place.’
“Save Kashmir,” Afridi tweeted on Friday.
It does not take a religious belief to feel the agony of Kashmiris..just a right heart at the right place. #SaveKashmir
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 15, 2020
