India should also tour Pakistan: Shahid Afridi

Karachi: He is looking forward to Pakistan touring India later this year, but flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi feels the resumption of bilateral cricket ties between the two countries can be a complete success only if the Indians also visit his nation.

After returning home from Colombo yesterday, Afridi said he was very happy to see that bilateral cricket ties between Pakistan and India would finally resume at the end of the year. "It is good news that bilateral ties will be resumed. It is good that Pakistan will be touring India this year and it should be a big series but I think India must also tour Pakistan as this would only further relations between the two nations," Afridi said. The all-rounder returned midway from the Sri Lanka Premier League, where he was playing for the Rahuna Royals, to be with his wife who is reported to be unwell. "It is very important that Pakistan and India play against each other regularly because our matches also have a profound impact on world cricket," he explained. "I say India should also tour Pakistan because this will also help Pakistan in its bid to convince other teams to come and play in our country despite their security concerns," he added. Pakistan is scheduled to tour India in late December this year to play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches. The series will be the first between the two countries since 2007. PTI