Bad Egg, Indian Identity: Shahid Afridi comments stir controversy ahead of IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 match

The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan has taken a controversial turn, with former Pakistan Cricketer Shahid Afridi making headlines just days before the clash in Dubai.

The Sunday fixture will be the first encounter between the two nations since the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, making the match politically charged.

Despite a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court requesting the cancellation of the game, Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi ensured the match would proceed as planned, denying the petition on Thursday.

Afridi’s recent comments on Pakistani television have added fuel to the fire. He reflected on the cancellation of the India Champions vs Pakistan Champions match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) earlier this year, strongly condemning the Indian players who chose to pull out of the event.

“I’ve always expressed that cricket should continue, as it has contributed to improving relations between the two countries,” Afridi said.

“In England, people had purchased tickets to watch the WCL match between India Champions and Pakistan Champions, and the players had even practised. Then the match didn’t happen. What was the reasoning behind that? I can’t figure it out,” he added.

He reaffirmed his “bad egg” remark about Shikhar Dhawan, stating, “The player I referred to as a bad egg was also told by his captain, ‘If you don’t want to play, then don’t. Just don’t post social media.’ But the player had his own intentions, which is why I called him a bad egg,” Afridi mentioned.

He highlighted various issues in India, mentioning that some individuals threaten players. He also pointed out that some players, who have always tried to prove their Indian identity, are now working as commentators in the ongoing Asia Cup.

“There are many issues in India. Some people even threaten players. Some players are still trying to prove they are Indians, something they’ve been doing since birth. Now, they’re doing commentary in the Asia Cup,” he concluded.