Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan recently looked back on the fiery exchanges he once had with ex-Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, emphasising how their rivalry sometimes crossed the line from competitive banter to personal confrontation. According to Irfan Pathan, Shahid Afridi often tried to provoke him through sharp and sometimes inappropriate remarks, including personal comments that went beyond normal on-field sledging.
Supporting Irfan Pathan’s version of events, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria spoke up in agreement. Danish Kaneria publicly backed Irfan Pathan and stated that Afridi often resorts to personal attacks, even going so far as to target someone’s family or religion. He remarked online that Afridi lacks class and decency, making it clear that he believed Irfan Pathan’s account.
One of the episodes Irfan Pathan described occurred during the Indian team’s 2006 tour of Pakistan. He recalled a specific incident during a flight from Karachi to Lahore when both the teams were traveling together. Afridi walked over, placed his hand on Irfan Pathan’s head and disturbed his hair, casually addressing him as “kid”. Irfan Pathan recalled feeling disrespected and wondered how Afridi felt entitled to behave that way, as if he were his senior in a fatherly sense. Despite Irfan Pathan not speaking to Afridi beforehand, Afridi continued with unpleasant remarks while seated nearby.
Irfan Pathan then described how he decided to respond differently to make his point. Sitting next to Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, Irfan Pathan asked him what type of meat was commonly available. Abdul Razzaq responded by listing various kinds.
Irfan Pathan then asked whether dog meat was served which surprised Abdul Razzaq and he asked Irfan Pathan why he was saying that. In response, Irfan Pathan joked that Shahid Afridi must have eaten dog meat because of which he is barking for so long.
According to Irfan Pathan, Afridi got silent after this unexpected retaliation and did not speak again for the rest of the flight. Irfan Pathan believed that Afridi realised from that moment onward that he would not win in a verbal exchange with him. From that incident onward, Afridi stopped trying to taunt him directly.
Irfan Pathan concluded his story by asserting that after the flight, Afridi never attempted to engage with him in personal jibes again, having understood that such tactics would no longer work with him.
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