Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is set to play for Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), remarked that the real stars of the league are the local Bangladeshi players. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the local players in the upcoming BPL.
He made these statements on Saturday (December 28) while speaking to reporters.
Afridi said, “To be honest, I’m not a star. There are many Bangladeshi players here. Tamim Iqbal is playing, and so are all the national team players.”
He further added, “I’m just a cricketer trying to perform for the team and help win matches.”
While Afridi is in Bangladesh for the BPL, Pakistan is on a tour of South Africa playing Test matches. Despite being Pakistan’s top pacer, Afridi is not part of the Test squad. Officially, he has been rested, but Pakistani media reports suggest he was excluded due to disciplinary issues.
When asked about his absence from the Test squad, Afridi did not shy away from answering. He stated that he is fully fit and ready to play but avoided commenting on the ongoing controversies in Pakistan cricket.
Fortune Barishal, last season’s champions, aim to defend their title, and Afridi, playing in the BPL for the first time, is determined to give his best for the team.
Afridi revealed that his decision to play in the BPL was heavily influenced by Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal.
He said, “When Tamim Bhai called me, I was ready. Last year, I was busy due to international commitments. I couldn’t play in the past 2–3 years. Now I have the time and hope to play good cricket here.”
Barishal will face newcomers Durbar Rajshahi in the opening match of the tournament.
Afridi is fully committed to delivering his best for Fortune Barishal in the BPL, which begins on December 30.
