Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi slammed the negativity surrounding the new one day kit being used for the first time at the ongoing Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

by Saj Sadiq

21 June 2010

 Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi slammed the negativity surrounding the new one day kit being used for the first time at the ongoing Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net from Dambulla, Afridi stated that he was unhappy with the comments from some former Pakistan players and from certain individuals within the media. "From my point of view the playing kit we are using in Sri Lanka is fine. I was asked to provide input into the new kit that we are using and my feedback was taken on board. Neither my team mates or I have any complaints about the playing kit, and I would even go far and say that from a player's point of view, this is one of the better kits that we have used".

Comments attributed to Pakistan pace bowler Sarfraz Nawaz on Pakistan television criticized the playing kit itself and the role of the kit suppliers Boom Boom Cricket. However Afridi feels that Nawaz's comments are unjustified and not very well thought out, given that Nawaz has not played cricket for more than a quarter of a century. "The most important thing about the kit is that it is comfortable, feels good and doesn't hamper the performance of the players. The conditions in Dambulla are very difficult given the hot and humid conditions and the kit has stood up to this thorough test very well".

As well as Nawaz's criticism, there have also been some negative comments in the press regarding the lime green playing kit and Afridi added "I wished that certain individuals in the media would rather concentrate on the cricket than making negative and not very well thought out comments in the press. I will deal with those issues in due course".

Pakistan's playing kit supplied by Boom Boom Cricket is being used for the first time during the Asia Cup, although the manufacturer of the playing kit is still the previous one that was contracted to the Pakistan Cricket Board. A source close to Boom Boom Cricket when contacted by PakPassion.net confirmed that the manufacturer of the playing kit will change in future, to one that is regularly used by Boom Boom.