Shahid Afridi reacts to Virat Kohli’s statement on visiting Pakistan

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi praised Indian cricket star Virat Kohli for his willingness to visit Pakistan.

Speaking at a tape ball event in Karachi on Saturday, Afridi expressed that he wasn't surprised by Kohli's statement, welcoming the former Indian captain's gesture.

"I expected such a statement from Virat. I welcome Virat, whether he comes to the PSL or with the Indian team," Afridi remarked.

Kohli's interest in visiting Pakistan was revealed during his video call with Pakistani mountaineer Shehroze Kashif in 2022.

Kohli mentioned his desire to visit Pakistan soon, saying, "Give my regards to your family and all your friends. Hopefully, we visit Pakistan soon; everyone's started visiting now."

Afridi also shared his thoughts on the current issues with Pakistan's batting lineup. He highlighted the need for a strong opening batsman and identified Saim Ayub as a promising talent.

"Saim has a lot of talent. I hope he performs well. Pakistan needs a batter who can play well in the first six overs," Afridi said.