Former Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Khan Afridi said on Thursday that Gautam Gambhir had not moved on from their heated exchange back in 2007.
In a column for ICC’s official website, Shahid Afridi said that normally India and Pakistan cricket players were friendly with each other but Gautam Gambhir was an exception.
“Of course, there are exceptions like Gautam Gambhir, who dare I say isn’t the friendliest. We are unlikely to be found together at a coffee shop anytime soon,” said Afridi.
He claimed that he had moved on from the ugly episode and termed such incidents as ‘part and parcel of the game’. “Gautam for some reason can’t get over it (the verbal spat between the two). Good luck to him!” he said.
However, Afridi made a point to mention that Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan were among his best mates and all of them had a splendid time when both cricketing teams often toured each other’s countries.
“I have enjoyed excellent relationships with Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. The three are one of my best mates and we have some wonderful memories together,” he wrote.
Afridi narrated a funny incident which occurred when he invited the Indian team over for dinner at his house in Karachi once. The swashbuckling all-rounder apparently forgot to keep the menu according to the preferences of his esteemed guests.
“We prepared special Pathan-style rich food, full of lamb and mutton dishes. When the food was served, there was a complete silence in the room and my Indian friends were looking at each other. At that point, I realised that my honourable and respectable guests don’t eat that type of food,” he stated.
Afridi spoke highly of Virat Kohli and stated that he would remember the Indian skipper for his gesture of giving him his jersey after a match in 2016.
