Quoted 'out of context'
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said on Tuesday his derogatory remarks about Indians and the Indian media had been taken out of context as he sought to dampen anger over the televised outburst.
Speaking to AFP, the World Cup skipper vowed to play a positive role in getting the two arch-rivals back together on the cricket pitch, but he insisted that some "negative" elements within the Indian media needed to be overcome.
Afridi had praised Pakistan's media for being "100 times better" than India's in a Pakistani TV show aired Sunday, adding that Indians did not have "big and clean hearts" like Pakistani Muslims.
The comments shocked fans in India, who had greeted his efforts during the World Cup to promote harmony between the estranged neighbours whose diplomatic relations are fraught with tension.
Pakistan lost to India in the competition's semi-final in a much-hyped game attended by the leaders of both countries, in an event hailed as "cricket diplomacy". India went on to beat Sri Lanka and win the Cup.
"I have enjoyed my cricket in India and I love Indian people. I have always got a lot of love and affection from Indian fans," Afridi told AFP.
"We went to India with a message of peace and to win hearts and, of course the World Cup," he said, praising what he called a "very warm response" to the Pakistani team from the Indian hosts.
He insisted his remarks had been taken out of context, although he stood by comments about the Indian media.
"There are some negative elements who needed to be defeated and these same people quoted me out of context," he said.
"I still maintain that some Indian media tried to make things negative around the semifinal which was not acceptable," said Afridi, calling on the media "to play a more positive role".
"Once these positive things prevail, we can see both the countries play together regularly and millions of people enjoy that," said Afridi who finished World Cup's highest wicket taker with 21.
The 31-year-old all-rounder made similar remarks in an interview with India's NDTV channel aired on Tuesday in a bid to resolve the row.
In his televised comments on Sunday, which were aired at length and uninterrupted by Pakistani private channel Samaa, Afridi had accused the Indian media of "worsening ties" between the two countries.
"If I have to tell the truth, Indians cannot have the kind of hearts that Pakistani Muslims have. They cannot have the big and clean hearts that Allah has given to Pakistanis."
The remarks contrasted with his role during the World Cup.
On the eve of the semifinal clash between the countries, Afridi had said that cricket always "brings these two countries together" and described himself as an "ambassador for Pakistan".
India and Pakistan have not played a cricket series on each other's soil since the Mumbai attacks in 2008 derailed their peace process.
New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based Islamist extremists for the attacks, which left 166 people dead.
The two nations have fought three
wars since the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947.
Looking ahead, Afridi told AFP he was available to tour the West Indies later this month.
"I had initially decided to stay with my family, especially with my ailing father, but my father and friends advised me not to skip the tour, so I have decided to go," said Afridi.
Pakistan will play a Twenty20, five one-dayers and two Tests on their tour of the Caribbean.
Comments