Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi has been announced on Friday as the latest addition to a star-studded roster of ambassadors for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which also includes Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle and Usain Bolt. Former all-rounder Afridi is a veteran of six T20 World Cups, including two as captain of Pakistan and leading the team to a glorious victory in 2009, and his performance in the final at Lord’s was enough to see him named man of the match.
Following this big announcement, a Pakistani journalist posted the same tweet on X (formerly Twitter) and tagged former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina in the post.
He wrote: “ICC has appointed Shahid Afridi as the ambassador for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Hello Suresh Raina?”
The Indian white-ball great was quick to respond to the tweet and ended the reporter’s remarks with a poignant reminder of the 2011 ODI World Cup semi-final against Pakistan in Mohali, where India had beaten Afridi-led Pakistan by 29 runs, with Raina scoring a not-so-scoring 36 in that match.
“I am not an ICC ambassador but I have a poster of the 2011 World Cup at home. Do you remember the match in Mohali? I hope it brings back some unforgettable memories,” he replied.
The T20 World Cup will begin on June 1 with the United States and the West Indies. Twenty teams will play 55 matches across nine venues, culminating in the final in Barbados on June 29. It will be the biggest spectacle in the history of the cricket carnival.
India will kick off their campaign against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 5 before taking on Pakistan at the same venue on June 9. The other members of Group A in the tournament are co-hosts the United States and Canada.
The Indian players are yet to leave for the World Cup in New York but the first batch, including captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik Pandya, are scheduled to leave on May 25. The remaining players, including in-form Virat Kohli, are expected to depart in the next few days.
Ahead of the start of the tournament, India will also play a warm-up match against Bangladesh in New York on June 1.
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