Posted by AI on 2025-09-12 06:02:55 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-20 16:13:02
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Pakistani cricket legend Shahid Afridi has controversially claimed that Indian players who withdraw from playing against Pakistan "are still trying to prove something". He made these remarks ahead of Pakistan and India's face-off in the upcoming Asia Cup.
Afridi, who is now 47 years old and still plays tennis ball cricket, was outraged by the withdrawals of Indian players from the World Cup League match against Pakistan in July. He blamed the move on " Politics, their government, their religion. They don't want to play against Pakistanis."
In a lively interview, Afridi, a former Pakistani captain, expressed his views on the intense sporting rivalry between Pakistan and India, the two nuclear-armed neighbors with a history of diplomatic tensions.
"I don't know what they are afraid of," he said. "We are all Muslims, we all pray to the same God. I have always said that we should play every game with India. But certain players still trying to prove something against Pakistan."
Afridi's comments are certain to add more fuel to the already heated rivalry between the two nations ahead of the Asia Cup, which begins on August 27 in the UAE. The current Indian team has refrained from making any comments on the controversy.
The cricket fans and officials will be hoping that the focus remains on the much-anticipated, thrilling cricketing action on the pitch and doesn't get overshadowed by these verbal skirmishes!