Afridi: I am innocent

Shahid Afridi claims that he is innocent and is not involved in the sex scandal that has rocked Pakistan cricket. In a telephonic interview to a local vernacular daily in Calcutta, Afridi has stated that he has been framed.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had fined Shahid Afridi, Atiq-uz-Zaman and Hasan Raza Rs 50,000 and had also excluded them from the team to participate in the ICC knock out tournament in Kenya. Talking over the phone from his residence at Karachi, Afridi has said, "I am not involved in any way regarding the allegations of the sexual scandal that has been raised against me. It is a fact that a number of young ladies came to my room to collect my autograph at the hotel in Karachi where I was staying. At that point of time, I had never dreamt that the situation would take such a turn. I would like to emphasize on the fact that I have been wrongly implicated." The dashing cricketer also said he has already received the letter from the PCB regarding his punishment.

Afridi has also stated that the entire incident has made him a villain in his own home. "My father, mother and brothers have been very critical of my actions. They have been reprimanding me since the incident came into focus. None of them are ready to believe me. I am at a loss as to what my action should be. Those who raised this false allegation have managed to establish it as a truth. However, I can swear by God to prove my innocence."

Afridi makes it clear that he will go to the chairman of the PCB Tauqir Zia to seek justice. He has also stated, "I will also ask for help from Moin Khan and Wasim Akram. However, this entire incident will affect my career severely. It will be very difficult to turn around my career after this but I will surely give it my best shot."