India's Pathan declares love for parrots

India's big-hitting Yusuf Pathan has a novel way of wiling away the long hours between matches at the World cup... by shopping for more parrots for his growing collection.

The powerful all-rounder, who has a collection of birds at home, bought two grey parrots, each worth 35,000 rupees ($777) and two Amazon parrots, said the Mid Day newspaper, adding all four can talk.

"I've liked parrots right from the time I was a little boy. There are some more of them at home. But I don't have this African parrot. I'm very happy now," Pathan said.

"I can't express my feelings for parrots, I just love them," he said.

The 28-year-old needs to obtain a special certificate from the wildlife conservation department before taking his feathered friends home, the report said, but once he gets them there Pathan is planning a new home for the birds.

"There is no place at home now. I have to make an out-house kind of place for them."

u00a0