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Shahid Afridi brushes aside fixing allegations, says Pakistan should savour victory

Snubbing reports of fixing, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Wednesday asked his countrymen to savour the team's One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 series victories over the West Indies.

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi has said that he is aiming for 400 One-Day International wickets © Getty Images

Karachi: Jul 31, 2013
 
Snubbing reports of fixing, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Wednesday asked his countrymen to savour the team’s One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 series victories over the West Indies.

“I don’t know who has made these claims, nor do I care. I say let us savour this victory as it has come after some hard work and teamwork,” Afridi told reporters after arriving at the Karachi airport from the West Indies.

Afridi said that such reports had not affected the morale of the team, which had done well to beat the West Indies at their own backyard.

“We played as a team to win the series and it was great winning after the Champions Trophy experience,” he said.

Afridi, who became the first batsman in the history of cricket to hit 400 sixes in international cricket, said he was now aiming to take 400 wickets.

In Lahore, where other members of the team arrived from the Caribbean, team manager, Naved Cheema rubbished the fixing report published by the British tabloid, The Daily Mail.

“It is all rubbish and this team should rightly feel proud for its victory. Anyone can investigate the claims and come to the truth,” Cheema said.

Spinner Saeed Ajmal also snapped at the allegations, saying, “At least appreciate us once in a while.”

Ajmal said that the players had given their 100 per cent during the series.

“After the way we performed in the Champions Trophy we were aware of the importance of the West Indies tour. We worked hard for this victory and it has restored our pride after our poor performance in the Champions Trophy,” he said.

He pointed out that the West Indies were not an easy side to beat at home.

“They were stronger because they were playing at home. It wasn’t easy to beat them and that is why we had some close games. But every player put in a collective effort and the result was good for us,” he stated.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad have stayed back for the Caribbean Premier League.
 

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