Pakistan's Afridi brushes off India security concerns

Kolkatha : Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has brushed off concerns over security for his team at the World T20, saying he was looking forward to playing in front of India's raucous crowds.

The 36-year-old said his team had always been "physically and mentally" prepared for the tournament despite weeks of uncertainty over whether they would be allowed to travel to arch rivals India, hosts of the World T20.

Pakistan only announced on Friday it was sending the national team after receiving assurances from India following negotiations with its neighbour over security arrangements. "We are cricketers and not politicians," Afridi told a press conference in Kolkata.

He said they were confident of success in their first outing against an unknown qualifier and the much-anticipated showdown against India.