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"Ever Since Birth...": Afridi Continues Mud-Slinging With 'Bad Egg' Dig Before IND Vs PAK

Soumyajit Dutta

Shahid Afridi speaks again on 'bad egg' remark [Source: @nizam_shah/X.com]Shahid Afridi speaks again on 'bad egg' remark [Source: @nizam_shah/X.com]

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has injected fresh controversy into the upcoming Asia Cup, making incendiary remarks about Indian players just days before the high-voltage match against India. The encounter in Dubai is already set against a tense political backdrop following recent events, adding significant pressure to the sporting spectacle.

A Public Interest Litigation seeking the match's cancellation was dismissed by the Supreme Court, ensuring the game proceeds as scheduled. However, Afridi’s comments on Pakistani television have shifted focus from cricket to conflict, ensuring the build-up is more heated than ever.

Afridi Criticises WCL Pullout, Repeats 'Bad Egg' Jibe

Speaking on Samaa TV, Afridi revisited the cancellation of a World Championship of Legends (WCL) match earlier this year, expressing his frustration with the Indian players who withdrew.

“I have always said that cricket should go on; it has always helped in making the relations better between the two countries. In England, people had bought tickets to see the WCL match, and the players had practised. Then you didn’t play. What was the thinking? I just can’t understand,” Afridi told Samaa TV.

He then doubled down on his previous criticism aimed at Shikhar Dhawan, though without naming him directly.

“If I name any player, then their lives would be made hard. The player I referred to as a bad egg, his captain also told him, ‘If you don’t want to play, then don’t play. Just don’t tweet on social media.’ But that said, the player had come with an ulterior motive. That is why he was a bad egg,” Afridi remarked.

Afridi Claims Players Are 'Trying to Prove They Are Indian'

Shahid Afridi further escalated his rhetoric by alleging that some former Indian players feel a need to aggressively assert their national identity.

“There are plenty of issues in India. Some people reach the houses of players and threaten to burn them down. Certain players are still trying to prove they are Indian. They have been displaying this ever since being born. Now they are doing commentary in the Asia Cup,” he said.

With these comments fueling an already intense rivalry, the stage is set for a deeply charged encounter when the two teams meet on Sunday in Dubai for their group stage fixture.