As the countdown to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins, emotions are already running high, especially when it comes to India and Pakistan. Adding to the build-up, Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has made strong comments about past encounters between the two rivals, stirring fresh debate ahead of their much-anticipated clash.
Shaheen Afridi recently questioned the Indian team’s conduct during their meetings at last year’s Asia Cup, suggesting that certain actions went against the spirit of sportsmanship. His remarks referred to moments when the Indian players chose not to interact with their Pakistani counterparts, including skipping the traditional post-match handshake.
The issue did not end there. After India edged past Pakistan in a dramatic Asia Cup final, the Indian team declined to receive the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. That decision drew widespread attention and sparked discussions across both the countries.
India’s move came in the backdrop of a ter*or att@ck in Pahalgam and was seen as a gesture of solidarity with the Indian armed forces following Operation Sindoor, which targeted ter*orist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
In response, Mohsin Naqvi, who also holds the position of Pakistan’s Interior Minister, took the trophy with him and later secured it at the ACC headquarters in Dubai. He has since stated that India would need to formally collect the silverware from him if they wished to do so.
Speaking to the media, Shaheen Afridi, who has represented Pakistan in 33 Tests, 71 ODIs and 96 T20 internationals, said that while he felt sportsmanship was compromised by those across the border, Pakistan’s focus remains on playing cricket. He added that the team prefers to respond through performances on the field rather than words.
Due to ongoing diplomatic tensions, India and Pakistan now only face each other in ICC or continental tournaments, making every meeting rare and emotionally charged.
The two arch-rivals have been drawn together in Group A of the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. Their blockbuster encounter is scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, ensuring that when these two teams meet, the world will once again be watching closely.
