Asia Cup 2025, IND vs PAK: Shahid Afridi Sparks Controversy With Bold Remark on Indian Identity

Shahid Afridi is once again in the news for the wrong reasons. This time it is before the big Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan in Dubai this Sunday. The former Pakistan captain had earlier made provocative comments during the Pahalgam terror attack in India and during Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to that attack.

Now, as some people call for a boycott of Sunday’s game, the 48-year-old has brought up the World Championship of Legends held in the United Kingdom recently. Afridi criticized the Indian players who had joined that event but refused to play against Pakistani players.

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Afridi on Cricket and Boycott Calls

“I have always said cricket should continue. It always helps improve relations between the two countries,” Afridi told Samaa TV. “In England, people bought tickets to see the WCL match between India Champions and Pakistan Champions. The players had also practised. Then you did not play. What was the thinking? I cannot understand,” he added.

Afridi also claimed that some players are “trying to prove they are Indian” amid calls for boycotting the latest clash between the two rivals. “There are many issues in India. Sometimes people threaten players at their homes. Still, some players keep trying to prove they are Indian. They have been doing this since birth. Now they are also doing commentary in the Asia Cup,” he said.

Afridi Rekindles ‘Bad Egg’ Remark

Afridi had earlier called one Indian Champions player a “bad egg,” believed to be Shikhar Dhawan, after India boycotted both matches against Pakistan in the second WCL season, including the semi-final. In his latest comments, Afridi repeated that jibe.

“If I name the player, his life will become hard. The player I called a bad egg, even his captain told him, ‘If you don’t want to play, then don’t play. But don’t tweet on social media.’ The player came with another motive, that is why I called him a bad egg,” Afridi said.

Meanwhile, despite the BCCI and Government of India approving the Asia Cup match, ticket sales for the India-Pakistan clash have been slow. The Asian Cricket Council has cut ticket prices to attract more fans to their main venue.