Captain Virat Kohli Diplomatic on Shahid Afridi’s Kashmir Tweet

Virat Kohli was one of the few who remained diplomatic in his reply to Shahid Afridi’s tweet about Kashmir.

(Photo: ANI)

Indian captain and skipper Virat Kohli, in response to Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi’s controversial tweet on Kashmir, said:

As an Indian, you want to express what is best for your nation and my interests are always for the benefit of our nation. If anything opposes it, I would never support it for sure. But that said, it’s a very personal choice for someone to comment about certain issues. Unless I have total knowledge of the issues and the intricacies of it I don’t engage in it. But definitely, your priority stays with your nation.

Virat Kohli, Indian captain

Afridi had tweeted on 3 April, “Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the @UN & other int bodies & why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?”

Apart from Kohli, other cricketers also responded to Afridi’s tweet, some not as diplomatic as the Indian cricket captain. Gautam Gambhir lashed out at the Pakistani cricketer.

Suresh Raina said, “Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so always.” He said he hoped “ bhai asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir. We want peace, not bloodshed and violence.”

Former cricketer Kapil Dev was dismissive about Afridi’s comment.

Who is he? Why are we giving importance to him? We should not be giving importance to certain people.

Kapil Dev, Former captain, Indian cricket team, to ANI 

Afridi, though, far from responding with an apology or a rephrasing his statement, tweeted later that "when it comes to human rights, we expect the same for our innocent Kashmiris.”

While Afridi’s statement has ruffled more than a few feathers, it appears only the Indian cricket captain could stay diplomatic while responding to the statement.