No IPL cheer for Afridi

'Boom Boom' struggling to remain focused

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 24th April 2008

No IPL cheer for Afridi

Afridi: Distracted

The girls in skimpy dresses should be removed from the ground as this is distracting the batsman.

Shahid Afridi
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Pakistan and Deccan Chargers all-rounder Shahid Afridi has called for the cheerleaders to be removed from the Indian Premier League arena after claiming they cause too much of a "distraction".

Afridi endured a poor start to the multi-million dollar tournament after he scored just two runs in his first appearance during Hyderabad's nine-wicket defeat to the Delhi Daredevils on Tuesday.

Despite the action-packed start to the inaugural event, which included Brendon McCullum's 73-ball 158 on the opening night - Afridi believes not all of the glitz and glamour on display in the sub-continent is necessary.

"The girls in skimpy dresses should be removed from the ground as this is distracting the batsman," he told The News.

"Cricket itself is an entertainment. It does not require such cheerleaders to entertain."

Undervalued

The Chargers meet the Rajasthan Royals on Thursday as Afridi and his team-mates go in search of ther first win of the tournament.

Afridi, who was bought by his team for $675,000, also feels Pakistani players have been undervalued by the various IPL franchises.

He told Times Now: "Bids on Pakistan players as compared to other players are not high.

"Players of Pakistan like Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Gul and Shoaib Malik who performed exceptionally well in the Twenty20 World Cup last year did not get their due.

"I feel Pakistan players should have been bid for a higher amount."