Anticipation is building for the India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025, with the contest taking place amid significant tension both on and off the field. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has added fuel to the fire by making controversial comments about former Indian cricketers, adding to the already charged atmosphere surrounding this high-profile cricket rivalry.
The upcoming match, scheduled for Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium, marks the first encounter between India and Pakistan since the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor. This has significantly heightened the stakes, leading to calls for a boycott of the match in India. Many fans are expressing strong feelings about the match going ahead given the current emotional climate.
In the lead-up to the game, Afridi criticized Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh, referencing the cancellation of the India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 earlier this year. The match was called off because Indian players, including Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Suresh Raina, withdrew, citing public pressure and online backlash.
Dhawan had previously stated that he had informed the WCL organizers of his decision not to play against Pakistan well in advance. Afridi, however, expressed his doubts in a recent interview on Samaa TV.
Afridi remarked, “I have always said that cricket should go on; it has always helped in making the relations better between the two countries. In England, people had bought tickets to see the WCL match, and the players had practiced. Then you didn’t play. What was the thinking? I just can’t understand.”
Without naming names, Afridi alluded to internal conflicts within the Indian team during the WCL event. He said, “Agar mai naam lunga na iss waqt, toh wo beechare phass jayenge (If I name any player, then their lives would be made hard). The player I referred to as a bad egg, his captain also told him, ‘If you don’t want to play, then don’t play. Just don’t tweet on social media.’ But that said, the player had come with an ulterior motive. That is why he was a bad egg.”
Afridi then made more personal remarks, claiming that some Indian players are continually subjected to threats and feel compelled to prove their loyalty to India. He stated, “There are plenty of issues. Gharon tak paunch jaate hain, ghar jalaane ki dhamkiyaan dete hain un players ko. Kuch aise hain jo vahan saabit kar rahe hain ki hum Hindustaani hain. Bechaare jabse paida huye hain saabit kar rahe hain hum hindustani hain. (Some people reach the houses of players and threaten to burn them down, so what more should I say? Certain players are still trying to prove they are Indian. They have been displaying this ever since being born). Now they are doing commentary in the Asia Cup.”
While not directly naming the players, Afridi’s comments are widely seen as referencing Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan, who have been active in commentary and discussions around India-Pakistan cricket.
Afridi’s comments arrive at a sensitive moment. With tensions still high after recent cross-border events, cricket fans in India are divided on whether to hold matches with Pakistan. Afridi maintains that cricket can aid diplomacy, while many Indians believe that sport cannot be separated from national security and grief.
Afridi has a history of making provocative statements about India. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, he criticized the Indian armed forces on social media, leading to strong responses from Shikhar Dhawan and others on X (formerly Twitter).
As the cricketing world prepares for Sunday’s match, the rivalry is clearly about more than just the game. It’s a mix of history, politics, and personal emotions. Fans on both sides hope the focus returns to the cricket field.