'I’ve always felt at home here': Afridi speaks about his bond with Bangladesh

Shahid Afridi, who played for Pakistan from 1996 to 2018, holds a deep connection with Bangladesh.

Having toured the country numerous times during his 20-year international career and as a regular participant in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Afridi feels at home in Bangladesh.

The former star all-rounder fondly describes the country as his "second home," citing his experiences with its cricket-loving people and culture.

Afridi is back in the BPL this season, albeit in a different role. Now retired from playing, he serves as the mentor and brand ambassador for Chattogram Kings. Speaking during Chattogram's match against Khulna Tigers, Afridi reflected on his fondness for Bangladesh despite his team starting the tournament with a loss.

"Bangladesh is my second home; I've always seen it as such," Afridi told T-Sports. "I've played a lot of cricket here, and the people are so passionate about the game. I've received immense respect from Bangladesh. From my time playing for Pakistan and various BPL franchises, I have many great memories. Overall, it's been a wonderful experience, and I'm still enjoying my time here."

Afridi finds his role as mentor straightforward, focused on offering support and inspiration to the players.

Commenting on Chattogram's bowling performance, he remarked, "Being a mentor is very easy. It's about supporting and motivating the boys. The tournament has just started, but we made some big mistakes in our bowling. We have an experienced attack, but we failed to read the pitch and bowl in the right areas. If we can adapt to the conditions, I think we have a very balanced team."

Afridi also shared his joy at Bangladesh's recent successes on the international stage, including a Test series win in Pakistan and a T20 series triumph in the West Indies.

"I'm very happy to see Bangladesh's progress because they were struggling. Through the BPL, they've been working to provide opportunities to young talents for a long time. They played very well against Pakistan and won the series. I think there's great potential here. They need good academies where players can grow and develop."

The Khulna-Chattogram match was also notable for a moment of controversy.

Khulna captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz withdrew a "timed out" appeal against Chattogram's Tom O'Connell after the umpire had declared him out.

Afridi praised Mehidy's sportsmanship, saying, "Honestly, it was a great decision. By the rules, it was out, but this is where the spirit of cricket comes into play. Overall, it was commendable."