Ind-Pak series bigger than Ashes: Afridi

Karachi: Praising the efforts of the two countries' cricket boards in reviving bilateral series, former Pakistan skipper and allrounder Shahid Afridi said the popularity of India-Pakistan series is bigger than the Ashes.

Besides Afridi, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said that fans from both sides of the border are always eager to watch cricket matches between the two arch-rivals. Pakistan will be playing three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s against traditional rivals India in December this year.

"The series between Pakistan and India is more popular than the Ashes," Afridi was quoted as saying by The News. "The matches between Pakistan and India are widely followed and people throughout the world are greatly interested in their matches," he added.

Besides Afridi, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said that fans from both sides are always eager to watch matches between the two sides.

"The pressure is great when we play against India but it is also more thrilling," Afridi said.

It will be the first bilateral series between the two teams since Pakistan toured India in 2007. "It will be a great a spectacle for the cricket fans when the two sides face each other," Misbah said.

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