Srinagar: Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has strongly reacted to the comment of former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi’s comment in relation with scolding Amir over Babar Azam controversy.
In PSL 2023 controversy had erupted when Mohammad Amir appeared to throw ball in the direction of Babar Azam during Karachi Kings’ match against Peshawar Zalmi.
The incident sparked outrage on social media with fans criticising Amir’s behaviour, and former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also slammed the pacer. A day after the incident, Afridi, talking on a national television channel, revealed he ‘scolded’ Amir for his treatment of Babar.
“Whenever a player doesn’t perform, or even if he does, I drop him a message or call him. Likewise, I messaged Amir. I talked to him respectfully, but I also scolded him. I told Amir, ‘what do you want?’ You have gained so much respect, you faced a blot on your reputation and from there, you made a return. You got a new life, in a way. What are you even trying to do?” Afridi had said.
“If you want to play for Pakistan, you have to play alongside Babar only. Will you be able to look at him in the eye? Can you play under his captaincy? Focus on your performance, control your aggression, and go back home peacefully,” Afridi had further mentioned.
Now after more than four months later, Amir has finally reacted on the incident and opened up on Afridi’s remark.
“I received his message but this wasn’t it. He only praised my bowling and enquired about my injury. But the things like ‘how will you face Babar’… this wasn’t in his texts at all. What harm have I caused Babar? or vice-versa? I found it very weird. I don’t know what he was thinking when he said that. I guess he speaks a little quickly so he might have mistakenly said that,” Amir told ARY News in an interview.
“Babar and I have a mutual understanding and respect. He never bad-mouthed me and same from my side as well. But public thinks we are enemies. It was never like that,” Amir said further.