Afridi explained that it is important to support players – particularly when they are not performing well – as they are national heroes.
“Hasan team mein nahi hai. Lekin mujhe ye pata hai ki Hasan Ali ne Pakistan ke liye bohot achha perform kiya. Main nahi chahta ki log bhool jaayein usko. Meri abhi bhi baat hoti hai uss se, main khud se message karta hu usko ki himmat nahi haarni hai, comeback karna hai, domestic cricket ko seriously lena hai. Agar cricket khelna hai toh bas cricket hi khelna hai. (Hasan Ali is not in the team. But I know he has performed well for Pakistan. I don’t want people to forget him. I still talk to him, message him and tell him to not lose hope. I tell him to make a comeback and take domestic cricket seriously.),” Afridi said on Samaa TV.
“As a senior player, aap apne juniors ko saath leke chalte ho. Achhe vaqt me toh har koi saath rehta hai, bure vaqt me agar koi saath khada ho toh achha rehta hai. Ye hamaare Pakistan ke heroes hain, ham nahi support karenge toh aur kaun karega (As a senior player, it’s your responsibility to support your juniors. Everyone is with you in your good times, but it’s important to give support during bad times too. These are Pakistan’s heroes, if we don’t support them, who will?).”
