Shahid Afridi compares India-Pakistan cricket rivalry to NFL's Super Bowl

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has compared the National Football League (NFL) final (the Super Bowl) to the decades-long rivalry between Pakistan and India.

In a recent column for the International Cricket Council (ICC), Afridi drew the comparison to help the Americans understand the extent of the clash.

“For those Americans discovering the tournament, they should know that Pakistan’s game against India is like our Super Bowl,” Afridi said.

“People are going to love the support in the States. There is a great expat community over there which absolutely loves cricket," he added.

“And the Americans absolutely love their sport, whether it is American football, basketball or baseball. I really believe that cricket will hit the mainstream over there in the next few years, which is very exciting for up-and-coming cricketers.”

Reminiscing the days when Afridi used to play cricket and played against India, he called it the most significant cricket rivalry.

“I used to absolutely love playing India, and I really believe it is the biggest rivalry in sport. When I played in those games, I got a lot of love and respect from the Indian fans, and it means so much to both sides,” he concluded.

It is worth noting that the Men in Green will commence their T20 World Cup campaign against co-hosts USA on Thursday, June 6, in Dallas.

Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Babar Azam (C), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf.

Pakistan’s schedule of matches:

• 6 June – vs USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas
• 9 June – vs India, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
• 11 June – vs Canada, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
• 16 June – vs Ireland, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida