Shahid Afridi clears air after being pictured with Zionist group

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has cleared the air after what appears to be him being part of Zionist group protest in Manchester.

The ‘North West Friends of Israel’ added fuel to the issue in a tweet thanking the former Pakistan all-rounder for supporting their cause.

“Pakistani international cricketer @SAfridiOfficial stopped to offer his support for our call to release the hostages at our NWFOI vigil last Sunday in Manchester,” the post said.

“Thank you for your support, Shahid!” it added.

However, soon after the picture of him with the Zionist supporters went viral on social media.

Later, Afridi issued a clarification stating that it was nothing but a fan interaction.

Afridi said that he was walking down a street in UK when some people asked him for a photo and he obliged.

“Imagine strolling down a street in Manchester (UK) and so-called fans approach you for a selfie. You oblige, and moments later, they upload it as some form of Zionist endorsement,” he wrote.

“Unbelievable! Please don’t believe everything that is uploaded.”

“Seeing innocent lives in Palestine suffer is truly heartbreaking. Thus, any photo or association shared by in Manchester does not reflect my support for any situation where human lives are at stake,” he wrote.

“I take pictures with fans from all over the globe, and this situation was no different,” he said.

In the picture Afridi can be seen, according to NW Friends of Israel, standing with the group’s chair and deputy chair. People holding placards can be seen in the background.

It claimed that the former Pakistan captain had lent support for a protest asking for Israeli hostages to be released.

NWFOI describes itself as a ‘grassroots movement’ in north-western UK that advocates Israel.