Shahid Afridi Sparks Controversy Over India’s Withdrawal from Match
On July 20, former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi stirred up tensions when he addressed the Indian team’s decision to withdraw from their match at the World Championship of Legends (WCL 2025). The Indian players chose to skip the exhibition game due to Afridi’s participation, citing his previous controversial remarks about India during times of conflict between the two nations.
Speaking with local media on the planned match day, Afridi suggested that the Indian players were disappointed about not playing and pointed fingers at Shikhar Dhawan, who had publicly stated that he wouldn’t participate if Afridi was in the Pakistani lineup. He referred to Dhawan as a “rotten egg,” implying that he had spoiled the opportunity for the rest of the team.
“Sports should bring countries together. If politics interferes, how can we progress? Without dialogue, solutions seem impossible,” Afridi expressed. He went on to criticize Dhawan further, calling him an embarrassment and suggesting that the Indian team should not have come to the event if they were unwilling to compete.
“They practiced the day before the match. It seems they backed out because of one person. I think they were here to play, and it’s disappointing to see this happen. Representing your country means being a good ambassador,” Afridi commented.
Contradictions in Afridi’s Statements
Interestingly, Afridi’s recent comments contrast sharply with his earlier statements from April, where he accused the Indian government of violence within its own borders. At that time, he alleged that terrorists freely attacked civilians in Pahalgam, claiming the blame was unfairly directed at Pakistan.
On the day of the postponed match, Afridi presented himself as a cricket ambassador, voicing disappointment over the missed opportunity. “We were looking forward to playing in front of a large crowd. To not play is indeed disappointing,” he noted.
He also mentioned that had he known his presence was a problem for the Indian team, he would have opted out of the game. “If they didn’t want to play because of me, I would have stayed home. Cricket should take precedence,” he asserted.
The anticipated match marked the first cricket face-off between India and Pakistan since a significant incident dubbed Operation Sindoor. The event was called off following a strong backlash from Indian social media users who questioned the wisdom of participating in an event with Pakistani players given the ongoing tensions.
As the situation unfolds, the cricket world watches closely to see how these complex dynamics play out.
