Former Indian cricketer defends Afridi as ‘Best T20I all-rounder of 2010s’

Former Indian batsman and commentator Aakash Chopra has defended his decision to pick Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi as the best Twenty20International (T2oI) all-rounder of the last decade.

The 42-year-old took to Twitter to share his picks for the best batsman [Virat Kohli], bowler [Lasith Malinga], all-rounder [Shahid Afridi] and wicketkeeper [Jos Buttler] in T20Is in 2010s.

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Although Chopra's followers agreed with majority of his picks, the former cricketer received criticism from an Indian fan on Twitter, who accused him of only picking Afridi to please his Pakistani followers.

“Explain us why u choose afridi….for impressing Pakistani fans?” tweeted a fan.

Explain us why u choose afridi....for impressing Pakistani fans?

— Subash reddy (@Subashr888) January 4, 2020

Indian commentator replied to the fan and claimed that Afridi’s T20I record justifies his selection.

“You obviously didn’t have a look at his T20 International record in 2010s. The decade. Do yourself a favour and check. Thank me later ☺️🤗” tweeted Chopra.

You obviously didn’t have a look at his T20 International record in 2010s. The decade. Do yourself a favour and check. Thank me later ☺️🤗 https://t.co/6T2hL9Zsp4

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 4, 2020

Afridi picked up 61 wickets and scored nearly 1000 runs in 73 T20Is in the last decade.