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 during their match on Tuesday "it seems you have a bit of fan following here in Mohali".

"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.

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.

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

One Pakistani tweeter in Lahore, Faraz, joked about it at the time, saying that Afridi would be next criticised for not mentioning Kashmir or meeting separatist leaders - something which Pakistani leaders or diplomats are often expected to do when they visit India.

(BBC)