LAHORE – The Punjab government has offered land to former T20 skipper Shahid Afridi for constructing a cricket academy “anywhere in the province”.
“Shahid Afridi is our national hero,” said Hanif Abbasi, the chairman of Punjab Steering Committee on Sports, adding that the provincial government would fully support the star all-rounder in building a cricket academy.
The Punjab’s offer comes a day after Afridi lambasted the Sindh government for refusing to lend him land to start a cricket academy.
Sindh Sports Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar on Sunday telephoned the former T20 skipper and assured him to grant land for his cricket academy.
The sports minister asked Afridi to choose a ground and inform the government about it, as Sindh government has decided to make a committee that will look after this plan and finalise the ground.
Also on Sunday, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar offered Shahid Afridi land for establishing a cricket academy. Akhtar offered Afridi to establish the cricket academy in Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) ground.
Afridi intends to build an academy to train power hitters for the game under the guidance of foreign coaches.
