'Till Modi is in power, don't think we'll get any response,' Shahid Afridi blames PM for no India vs Pakistan bilateral series

Cricket superstar Shahid Afridi has opined that bilateral series between India and Pakistan cannot resume until PM Narendra Modi is in power.

Afridi went on to further blame PM Modi for spoiling the relations between the two nations sever since Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in India in 2014.

"Till Modi is in power, I don't think we will get any response from India. We have all, including Indians, understood the way Modi thinks. His thinking is inclined towards negativity. The relationship between India and Pakistan has been damaged because of one person only. And that is not what we want.

People from either side of the border want to travel to each other's country. I don't understand what Modi wants to do and what his agenda really is," Afridi told Cricket Pakistan when asked if bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan can resume.

Pakistan and India have not locked horns in a bilateral series since 2012-13 when Mishbah-Ul-Haq and Mohammed Hafeez's teams toured India for a two-match Twenty20 International (T20I) and three-match One-Day International (ODI) series. Meanwhile, the Indian team's last visit to Pakistan happened in 2006 when Rahul Dravid was the captain.

Ever since the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008, the arch-rivals have been playing each other only in the ICC tournaments.

The former Pakistan captain credited the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the success of Indian cricket as he said that the T20 league has helped the cricketers to cope with the pressure that international cricket has on offer.

"I think the IPL turned around Indian cricket. Their new players after having played in the IPL with top foreign players and having shared the dressing room with them are ready when they come into international cricket. They are ready to cope with the pressures at this level.

I think the IPL changed their cricket and I think even our Pakistan Super League will do the same. Already we are seeing some good young players coming through the league. When you play with or against top international players before big crowds you learn to handle the pressure," Afridi further added.