Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi criticised for Kashmir comments

Shahid Afridi is the captain of Pakistan's cricket team

Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has caused an uproar in India for saying that a lot of support for their team at the World T20 comes from Kashmiris.

Afridi was responding to commentator Ramiz Raja who said "it seems you have a bit of fan following here in Mohali" during Pakistan's match on Tuesday.

"Yes, a lot of people, a lot of people are here from Kashmir as well," Afridi said on live television.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars and a limited conflict over Kashmir.

The region is claimed by both countries in its entirety.

Indian media channels have highlighted Afridi's statement as "provocative" and the secretary of India's cricket board, Anurag Thakur, has also criticised him.

"To give a statement like that is not politically correct. A player should stay away from all this," he was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.

Before coming to India, Afridi drew criticism in Pakistan for saying the team received "more love in India than back home".

The arrival of the Pakistani cricket team for the World T20 was delayed after Islamabad asked to have the venue of its India match shifted from Dharamsala over concerns for the safety of their players.