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Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi stirs controversy by questioning the patriotism of Indian cricket legends ahead of the high-voltage Asia Cup clash, reigniting the India-Pakistan cricket war of words.
The countdown for the high-octane Indo-Pak Asia Cup clash has just gotten hotter. The former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has stirred a fresh controversy by questioning the patriotism of Indian cricket legends, a remark that has sparked outrage across social media and cricket circles.
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Afridi, speaking during a televised debate on the upcoming clash, took a direct jibe at former Indian players like Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan, who had boycotted Pakistan matches during the World Championship of Legends tournament in July after the Pahalgam terror attack. He accused them of using nationalism selectively and questioned their commitment to the country.
“Some of these players still try to prove they are patriotic Indians, yet here they are doing commentary at the Asia Cup,” Afridi remarked, hinting at Dhawan in particular. His statement has been widely criticised, with fans accusing him of dragging politics into cricket and disrespecting Indian heroes.
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This is not Afridi’s first controversial statement. Earlier, during the Pahalgam attack, he had made derogatory comments about the Indian Army, calling them “ineffective and useless.” Dhawan had hit back strongly then, reminding him of India’s victory in the Kargil War and urging him to focus on Pakistan’s internal issues.
Cricket experts say Afridi’s comments may have been a veiled response to India’s strong stance during the Legends tournament boycott, which forced Pakistan to reach the finals without playing Team India.
With the Asia Cup clash approaching, this war of words has only fuelled anticipation for what is already the most awaited fixture in world cricket.
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