Sachin Tendulkar hits back at Shahid Afridi: No outsider should advise India on Kashmir

Shahid Afridi being hugged by West Indies legend Viv Richards (Image: Twitter)

New Delhi: Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday joined fellow Indian cricketers who have slammed former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi for his comments on Kashmir.

Speaking to media at the sidelines of an event, Tendulkar said India doesn't need an "outsider" to advise on any issue.

"We have got capable people to manage & run our country. No outsider needs to know or tell us what we need to do," the former India captain said when asked for his view on Afridi's comments.

Afridi had on Tuesday condemned the recent anti-terror operations by Indian security forces in Kashmir and had urged the United Nations (UN) to stop the bloodshed.

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

"We respect all. And this is an example as sportsman. But when it comes to human rights we expect the same for our innocent Kashmiris," he added.

Reactions from Indian cricketers poured in following the comments by Afridi, who was slammed by Kapil Dev, Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina.

VIRAT KOHLI

"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," Kohli said.

"But having said that, 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," he added.

KAPIL DEV

"Who is he (Afridi)? Why are we giving importance to him? We should not be giving importance to certain people," India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain said.

GAUTAM GAMBHIR

"What is there to say on Afridi's tweet on our Kashmir and UN. Afridi is only looking for UN which in his retarded dictionary means under nineteen - his age bracket. Afridi is celebrating a dismissal of a no ball," the opening batsman tweeted.

SURESH RAINA

"Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so always. Kashmir is the pious land where my forefathers were born. I hope @SAfridiOfficial bhai asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir. We want peace, not bloodshed and violence."