Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday telephoned skipper Shahid Afridi to buck up Pakistan cricket team for World Cup semi-final match on March 30 against India in Mohali.

PM Gilani said while talking to Shahid Afridi that he is coming to Mohali to support Pakistani team in the crucial semi final against India.

The Prime Minister praised Pak. team for performing well and hailed skipper Shahid Afridi’s leadership and efforts for reaching in semi finals of the World Cup-2011.

“Play firmly in semi final match against India,” PM Gilani said during talks with Shahid Afridi.

An hour after Gilani's phone, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who made headlines over his match-fixing warning to Pakistani players, called up Shahid Afridi in a bid to repair the damage.

He said that Pakistani players were national heroes and that a propaganda was being done against him.

Punjab Cheif Minister Shahbaz Sharif also announced financial packages for the Pakistani side if they beat the India.