Shahid Afridi said he was disappointed with Kapil Dev's remark on Shoaib Akhtar's Indo-Pak series proposal. | Photo Credit: BCCL

Key Highlights Shoaib Akhtar had proposed a fund-raising series between India and Pakistan for Covid-19 Former Indian captain Kapil Dev opined that the series wasn't required as India did not need money Former Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi has now slammed Kapil for rebuffing Shoaib's idea

Celebrities across the globe have come forward to help their respective governments financially in the fight against the deadly Covid-19 – which has brought the world to a standstill. Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar recently proposed a series between India and Pakistan – which he opined would be helpful in connecting funds for the needy. However, former Indian skipper Kapil Dev snubbed Akhtar’s idea saying India did not need money and a series would mean putting lives of cricketers’ in danger. Akhtar’s compatriot and former Pakistani captain, Shahid Afridi, has now slammed Kapil for his statement.

"Shoaib Akhtar said something positive for the sake of humanity. I'm shocked at Kapil Dev's reply to him as I've seen videos from India where people are taking food from the garbage & eating it. Whilst I respect him, Kapil shouldn't have said what he did," Afridi said.

Afridi’s remarks came soon after Kapil dismissed Akhtar’s idea of an Indo-Pak series. Sharing his views, Kapil opined that it was a time where social distancing was the need of the hour and organising such a series would be difficult as it would also put the lives of cricketers in danger.

“India does not need money today so such a series should not be held. And why put our cricketers’ life in danger? So sit back and relax at home,” Dev told ABP News.

“Why take the risk of endangering even one life? There’s no need for anyone to give such suggestions. The authorities are trying their best to make people understand the importance of staying home. It’s easy to say things but organising such an event is extremely difficult.”

On the other hand, Akhtar said that Kapil did not completely understand what he meant as while India might not need money, there were others who needed it.

"I don’t think Kapil bhai understood what I was trying to say. Everyone is going to be trapped economically. This is the time to put our heads together and generate revenues. The global audience would be hooked by a match. Kapil said he doesn’t need the money and he surely doesn’t. But everyone else does. I think this suggestion will come into consideration soon,” Akhtar told Aaj Tak.

The two neighbours have been at loggerheads for quite a while due to the political tensions. India and Pakistan now lock horns only in global events. The two teams last met on the cricket field in ICC World Cup 2019 - where the Men in Blue continued their unbeaten run against the Men in Green in World Cup matches.